Can you wear a mouthguard during the day for TMJ?
If you are experiencing extreme discomfort or jaw locking, you may be a candidate to wear a mouth guard during the day. Wearing a daytime guard provides stability to the TMJ and discourages teeth clenching or any biting behaviors (such as nail biting or pencil chewing) that could be worsening your symptoms.
Can mouth guards be worn during the day?
More about daytime clenching Those day mouthguards are made of clear soft plastic material, so you can wear them all day long. By wearing a day guard on your bottom teeth, you can take pressure away caused by daytime clenching and grinding.
How can I stop clenching my jaw during the day?
If you notice that you clench or grind during the day, position the tip of your tongue between your teeth. This practice trains your jaw muscles to relax. Relax your jaw muscles at night by holding a warm washcloth against your cheek in front of your earlobe.
Why should you not use a mouthguard if you have TMJ?
What’s more: the design of many night guards causes the posterior teeth to touch the guard’s plastic while the anterior teeth hardly touch the guard or do not touch it at all. The unevenness of tooth contact with the night guard can lead to even more clenching, grinding and TMJ problems.
What mouthguard is best for TMJ?
Hard night guards are made of a hard acrylic material and are best for those with severe TMJ pain or grinding issues.
Does wearing a mouthguard damage teeth?
If you use a mouthguard properly, then it should actually protect your gums, rather than damage them. If, however, you use a dirty, damaged or ill-fitting mouthguard then you could actually be damaging your gums.
Why am I clenching my teeth during the day?
Stress – Just like grinding teeth at nighttime, the most common cause of clenching and grinding during the day is stress. Daytime bruxism has even been linked to jobs that come with high emotional stress, including law enforcement, military, and healthcare personnel.
Why do I clench my teeth while awake?
Awake bruxism may be due to emotions such as anxiety, stress, anger, frustration or tension. Or it may be a coping strategy or a habit during deep concentration. Sleep bruxism may be a sleep-related chewing activity associated with arousals during sleep.
How should I sleep if I have TMJ?
Sleeping on your back is going to be the best position if you suffer from TMJ, another TMD or orofacial pain. Lying on your back has a number of benefits: It won’t put pressure on the jaw. It will offer proper support to the head, neck and shoulders.