Wearing a mouth guard for jaw clenching and teeth grinding can help protect your teeth from excessive wear and provide relief from temporomandibular joint pain.
Can mouthguard make TMJ worse?
While most night guards can prevent enamel wear by avoiding direct teeth contact, it does not prevent grinding and clenching. In some cases, night guards actually increase the activity of the muscles that clench and this makes TMJ pain worse.
Can you use a night guard if you have TMJ?
Using a Dental Night Guard for TMJ Treatment Custom-fitted night guards are the best option because they will help to treat your TMJ disorder without affecting your breathing while you sleep. Acrylic night guards are usually thin and are molded to either the top or bottom row of teeth.
Will a bite guard help TMJ?
The most common reason for TMJ dysfunction is grinding or clenching teeth. Talking to your dentist and getting a bite guard for TMJ is the best first step for relief. A night guard will help decrease grinding and alleviate discomfort. You can try an over-the-counter guard, but it's often better to get one custom-made.