Dr. David McWhinnie Provides Mouthguard for Bruxism Patients

Dr. David McWhinnie of Smiles of Skokie family dental practice is proud to offer custom crafted mouthguards to protect his bruxism patients from night time tooth grinding that often leads to severe enamel damage. Continue reading →

Nov 27, 2014 /prREACH/ -- Dr. David McWhinnie of Smiles of Skokie family dental practice is proud to offer custom crafted mouthguards to protect his bruxism patients from night time tooth grinding that often leads to severe enamel damage. Many people with bruxism may not realize they suffer from the condition, as it often manifests at night when the person is asleep. Bruxism can be the result of several stimuli but the overall source of the behavior is linked to stress. Those experiencing a large amount of stress may suffer from tooth grinding at night as an expression of anxiety in the body. Other people who exhibit bruxism may be regularly ingesting large doses of caffeine or sugar throughout the day that lead to increased anxiety and stressful or restless behavior during sleep.

Patients suffering from bruxism may notice certain symptoms increasing after restless nights. Some may experience migraines or headaches, soreness in jaw muscles or face and neck muscles, and may be told by their partner that they are disturbed by their grinding and gnashing behavior during sleep. Some patients with more severe bruxism may experience worn down, chipped or even broken teeth. Unchecked grinding can lead to tooth damage which, if left untreated, can result in problems with decay and pain and further dental complications. Certain lifestyle changes can help alleviate sleep time symptoms, such as reducing daily stress and avoiding coffee and alcohol consumption before sleep. To combat night time tooth grinding associated with bruxism, Smile of Skokie offers the NTI Tension Suppression System.

The advanced NTI Tension Suppression System night guard is a simple mouthpiece worn at night that helps reduce clenching and grinding intensity and the effects on the teeth and jaws. The NTI mouthpiece is securely fit to each patient’s upper and lower front teeth, and is worn while sleeping.  By keeping the molars and canines from any type of friction during sleep, it reduces grinding symptoms to minimal levels and helps reduce the overall oral stress caused by bruxism. The NTI mouthpiece is a custom-fit prefabricated lexan matrix formed using the measurements of the patient’s bite. To learn more about bruxism, schedule an appointment or inquire further about treatment and symptoms of bruxism, visit Smiles of Skokie online at http://smilesofskokie.com/.