In terms of normal occlusion, the upper and lower arch of teeth won’t touch each other when you’re relaxed. Teeth grinding, termed as bruxism, however, is a continuous process. It will cause excessive abrasion of tooth enamel and ultimately lead to tooth sensitivity. 

    In such cases, it’s a night guard that should be sought to protect your teeth. What is a night guard?

    A night guard is a removable, transparent appliance that those suffering from teeth grinding should put on before going to bed. In general, the guard will fit your teeth very well and leave no discomfort. 

    The night guard required will vary widely from one case to another, so you have to visit a dentist and seek a customized set. Based on the frequency and intensity of teeth grinding, your dentist is able to decided whether soft or hard material is needed and whether a mouth guard for upper or lower arch of teeth is proper in you case. 

    When it comes to the price, it’s quite affordable, generally costing several hundred yuan. With the night guard put on, it’s the protector instead of your tooth enamel that will be ground. So it’s normal to see wear and tear of the mouth guard over time. That’s why you need to check it regularly and replace it in time if necessary. 

    Though a night guard can hardly treat teeth grinding, it can separate the upper and lower arch of teeth and thus protect the enamel from abrading. As a result, such symptoms as loose teeth, sore masseter and clicking of joint caused by teeth grinding can be avoided as well. For those with long-term bruxism, a night guard can give them a break and buy them more time to find out the underlying cause. 

    Nonetheless, teeth grinding happening to children during mixed dentition is considered normal, requiring no treatment. The replacement of deciduous teeth with permanent ones will result in occlusal disorder and thus teeth grinding which is set to disappear after the completion of dental replacement. Since most parents are incapable of judging whether the teeth grinding is a normal symptom or not. It’s  suggested to seek a thorough check-up and get a confirmed diagnosis when children grind their teeth. 

    Please feel free to contact me if there’s any dental problem. (WeChat ID: aiyuan325180)