fbpx

Daytime Clenching

Risks of Daytime Clenching 

Image of a happy woman who was able to find daytime clenching help from a dentist in Lincoln, NE.

Do you catch yourself in the act of daytime clenching? Many people grind their teeth at night, while some do daytime clenching. The amount of force that is created on your teeth from daytime clenching can do astronomical damage to your teeth. Excessive wear may not be uncomfortable, to begin with, but over time it will lead to sensitive teeth and cavities. Excessive wear can also change the appearance of your teeth, facial structure as well as the appearance of your smile.

Image of our dentist in Lincoln, NE, Dr. Kelly O'Hara, discussing daytime clenching with a patient at her Lincoln dental clinic.

Daytime clenching can cause changes, such as:

  • Noticeable tooth wear
  • Teeth that are shorter from their original size
  • Chips in teeth
  • Increased tooth sensitivity to cold or hot
  • Discomfort in your face
  •  Cracked fillings, new cavities under the current fillings
  • Broken teeth
  • Repetitive headaches or earaches
  • Jaw problems – discomfort when closing or opening, feeling very stiff, TMJ – temporomandibular joint disease

The simplest way to control daytime clenching is to wear a day guard during the day.

Image of a happy man who found options for helping daytime clenching from a dentist in Lincoln, NE.

More About Daytime Clenching

At Nebraska Family Dentistry, our Lincoln Family Dentistry dentists, make clear and comfortable daytime mouth guards. Those day mouth guards 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.

Daytime clenching can also be improved by following those tips:

Self – awareness can help decrease the amount of time spent clenching and grinding

Using Relaxation techniques

Chewing sugar-free gum can help keep the mouth occupied from clenching and grinding during the day. Please note, if you have a sore jaw, we encourage you to first improve the soreness before chewing gum, as repetitive chewing can aggravate the joint even more.

More on how to stop clenching

What is the cost of a custom day guard from a dentist in Lincoln, NE?

At Lincoln Family Dentistry we make affordable custom made night guards and day guards. The cost of a custom night or day guard is only $75. Our dentists in Lincoln, NE at Nebraska Family Dentistry, Lincoln Family Dentistry, offer affordable dentistry, so you can get the dental care you need and deserve. 

Image of a custom day guard. Our dentist in Lincoln, NE offer $75 custom day guards to help with daytime clenching.

Daytime clenching and temporo-mandibular disorder, TMJ

Temporo- mandibular disorder often coincides with daytime clenching. If you have TMJ, you may have symptoms, such as a stiff/sore jaw, discomfort in your neck, overall sensitive teeth, muscle spasms, inability to hold your mouth open for a long amount of time, and headaches.

The good news is that if you do suffer from TMJ any Lincoln Family Dentistry dentist in Lincoln, NE can help you alleviate some symptoms by making a custom fit night guard or day guard. By keeping the upper and lower teeth from contacting while you sleep or live your life during the day, TMJ symptoms can be significantly decreased.

Image of a happy young man who found solutions for daytime clenching from a dentist in Lincoln, NE.

What can you do if you have symptoms of TMJ from daytime clenching?

If you are currently suffering from side effects from clenching, grinding, along with TMJ symptoms you can try to do those things:

  • Eating softer foods
  • Decreasing or avoiding extreme jaw movements
  • Ice or heat packs in areas of stiffness / soreness
  • Following relaxation techniques
  • Getting a custom fit guard to wear at night and during the day

Conclusion

If you have been experiencing daytime clenching, our Lincoln dentist near me can easily help you by making you a custom fit day guard.   Schedule your consultation and we will be glad to help you. We offer affordable dentistry in Lincoln, NE along with convenient payment plans.

Schedule your consultation here

Your Caring Dentists in Lincoln, NE

LDP-state of nebraska approved

Affordable Dental Care

Make easy, affordable payments for your procedure with dental payment plans we offer.

Image of the CareCredit® logo. CareCredit® can help make dental services such getting dentures easy at a dentist near me in Lincoln, NE.
Sunbit ad

Schedule Day or Night

Schedule your dental appointment at anytime of the day or night with our online scheduling.

Schedule Online day or night logo from dentist in Lincoln NE near me Dr. Sullivan.

We have 7 locations in Lincoln, NE

Image displaying all locations of Nebraska Family Dentistry.

Lincoln Family Dentistry – Central Lincoln
South Lincoln Family Dentistry – South Lincoln
Northeast Lincoln Family Dentistry – Northeast Lincoln
Preserve Family Dentistry – East Lincoln
Coddington Dental – West Lincoln
NorthStar Dental – North Lincoln
SouthPointe Dental – Southwest Lincoln
Emergency Dentist NE – Emergency Dental Care
Lincoln Dental Plans – Affordable Dental Options
Nebraska Family Dentistry