Sometimes health problems that seem entirely unrelated to your teeth can be caused by an underlying dental issue. For many people, chronic head pain can actually be a sign that they need a nightguard. At Lovett Dental Gulfgate, you can get custom-fitted dental nightguards for headaches that provide pain relief and other health benefits. Through specialty dental services at your Southeast Houston dental practice, you are able to receive the care you need to relieve these headaches.
How to Tell If You Need Dental Nightguards for Headaches
A nightguard is a piece of soft or slightly firm plastic that is fitted to the shape of your jaws. It works by absorbing pressure from teeth and helping the mouth stay in a healthy position. A dental nightguard can assist with headache protection in cases where your headache is caused by nighttime tooth grinding. But how do you tell if your headaches are caused by tooth grinding or some other issue?
Also called bruxism, tooth grinding refers to the habit of clenching, grinding, or chewing motions that some people make while they sleep. It puts constant tension on the jaw muscles that can express itself as jaw pain or head pain. Since it happens while you sleep, you may not even know you have bruxism unless your sleep partner points it out. Here are some of the signs your chronic headaches are actually due to tooth grinding:
- Headaches in the morning
- Tips of teeth flattened due to constant tooth grinding
- Head pain happens alongside jaw pain or pain when chewing
- The doctor ruled out that something else is causing your head pain
- Headache causes a dull, throbbing sensation in the temples or ears
- Teeth feel sensitive or painful
The Benefits of Dental Nightguards for Headaches
A nightguard can help to prevent all the dangers associated with bruxism. When you are grinding your teeth so much that you get a headache in the morning, you are also putting excessive pressure on the teeth. This can wear down the enamel over time, causing cavities and cracks that require treatment. In addition to protecting from emergency dental situations like tooth damage, nightguards can also avoid extra stress on your jaw joint, facial muscles, and other facial structures. This can reduce damage and keep you from developing problems like TMJ. Some people even find guards to help reduce snoring and sleep apnea.
Make an Appointment at Lovett Dental Gulfgate
If you think you could benefit from a nightguard, talk with your dentist. Your dentist can help assess your situation and find the right style of guard for you. There are simple, “one size fits all” nightguards that are cheap but do not provide as much comfort and protection. A better choice is the custom guards you can get at a dental office like Lovett Dental Gulfgate. To get this style of guard, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth. This is a fast and painless process that just involves placing a molding material around your teeth. Then the mold is sent to a professional dental laboratory that will create a custom guard just for you. The lab will send the guard to your dentist, who will have you try it on, assess the fit, and ensure it is working correctly.
Lovett Dental Gulfgate is here to help you if you think a dental nightguard could help with tooth and jaw pain. We also provide a variety of other helpful dental treatments, so you can make sure all your oral health needs are taken care of. Here are some of the many dental services your dentist in Southeast Houston provides:
If you or a loved one could benefit from these services, set up an appointment with Lovett Dental Gulfgate now by calling 713-847-8822.