Hey guys, today I’d like to answer the question: Does a night guard help with chronic grinding, and is it an effective way to use a night guard for teeth grinding?

Yes, it does help, and I’m going to explain how. A night guard is like a mouthpiece that you wear while you sleep. It forms a protective barrier between your upper and lower teeth, preventing you from damaging your teeth further. Instead of grinding your teeth, you end up grinding the night guard. This barrier helps you avoid ruining or breaking your teeth, thereby lessening the damage to your oral health.

Night Does Not Eliminate Chronic Teeth grinding

However, it does not eliminate chronic teeth grinding. While it prevents further damage to your teeth, it doesn’t address the root cause of the problem, such as excessive stress, anxiety, or unmanageable anger. If you focus only on the night guard, you’ll find yourself replacing it frequently because you can’t stop grinding your teeth.

Managing the underlying issues can reduce the frequency and intensity of grinding. Research suggests you can use a night guard for one to two years if you grind your teeth occasionally, but chronic grinders may need to replace it every one or two months. Without addressing the underlying issues, the cost and frequency of replacing night guards can increase.

Therefore, it’s essential to deal with the emotions causing this chronic habit. By managing stress, anxiety, and other underlying issues, you’ll reduce the tension in your jaw and teeth, and the grinding will lessen. While it may not stop completely, the reduction will relieve you from stress and frequent replacements of the night guard.

In summary, use the night guard but also work on the underlying issues that led to the development of this habit. By addressing both aspects, you can reduce the intensity of grinding and use the night guard for a longer period, as per your dentist’s specifications.

Note from the Author

If you’re ready and you’d like my help with overcoming chronic teeth grinding and clenching habits for Improved Oral Health and Reduced Stress, then you can book a FREE BREAKTHROUGH CALL with me HERE. Happy healing 💙💙. Feel free to share and comment! Use this information with caution, it comes from my own thoughts & bias, experiences and research😊.

Disclaimer: I am not a Dentist, but as a therapist specializing in offering support and guidance in addressing the psychological factors contributing to bruxism.