CURING DISCOMFORT Similar to a sports mouth guard, a night guard is used to protect the teeth. Bruxism is the medical term for clenching or grinding teeth. Usually, people grind their teeth at night, but it can also happen during the day. Nighttime clenching can lead to head or jaw pain, severe wear or chipped teeth, headaches and more.
In most cases the pain and discomfort are often associated with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). TMJ disorders can also cause a clicking sound or grating sensation when you open your mouth or chew. But if there's no pain or limitation of movement associated with your jaw clicking, you probably don't need treatment for TMJ disorder.
Treatment for TMJ disorder is a very simple fix. A custom fit night guard is designed to make the upper and lower teeth not touch when biting. It is worn at night and can alleviate and wear of the teeth.