Is a night guard necessary during orthodontic treatment?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am undergoing orthodontic treatment and have a habit of teeth grinding at night. Should I use the night guard? Will it help?

Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for your query.

I understand your concern.

The condition you have of grinding teeth at night is called bruxism. This will have bad effects on teeth as it will cause polished facets over the occlusal surface of teeth due to loss or grinding of hard structures of teeth and can also cause muscular pain and TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain.

You can use a night guard, but since you have braces, it is better to use a customized one that might require changing from time to time due to your tooth movements caused by braces treatment. I suggest you consult your orthodontist regarding night guards.

I hope this has helped you.

Thank you.