Is Clenching Your Teeth Bad?

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Reviewed by  Monroe Elkin, BS PHARM., DMD

How to Stop the Damage Caused by Teeth Clenching

If you're asking yourself “Is clenching your teeth bad?”, you already know the answer. Clenching your teeth, whether voluntarily or involuntarily (typically in your sleep), is called bruxism. As you can imagine, bruxism is not only terrible for the health of your teeth — it's harmful to your overall health too.

There are many ways to address bruxism, but the most common is to add a nightguard to your routine. Nightguards vary wildly in quality and effectiveness, so it's important to consider your choice carefully. The most high-quality nightguards on the market are thin, easy-to-clean, and effective. CustMbite's Nightguard and Hard Surface Nightguard fit the bill perfectly (and affordably). Read on to learn more about teeth clenching, its effects, and solutions that can help you stop clenching teeth.

Is It Bad to Clench Your Teeth?

It is indeed. Bruxism is one of the leading causes of tooth damage. Your teeth simply weren't built to withstand excessive grinding. The delicate enamel is easily worn down, and bruxism speeds up the process — the natural damage that normally takes years to notice can be observed much sooner in the teeth of those who suffer from bruxism.

Why is Clenching Your Teeth Bad?

There's a laundry list of reasons why clenching your teeth is bad, and it's not limited to your teeth only. Here are some of the symptoms that can accompany bruxism:

  • Teeth that are flattened, chipped, fractured, or loose
  • Teeth grinding that's loud enough to wake a sleep partner
  • Worn enamel that exposes deeper layers of the tooth
  • Sensitive, painful teeth
  • Tired, tense jaw muscles
  • Difficulty opening or closing the jaw completely
  • Neck, shoulder, face, or jaw pain
  • Pain that feels like an earache
  • A dull, persistent headache often radiating from the temples

If one or more of these symptoms sound familiar, get to your dentist as soon as you can. Other disorders such as TMJ share the same symptoms, so be sure to confirm that your problems are rooted in bruxism and not something different.

What's the Best Way to Stop Clenching Teeth?

If you're still wondering “Is it bad to clench your teeth?”, here's the tl;dr: Yes.

However, CustMbite can help. With two mouthguards designed to crack down on the damage caused by bruxism, there's a perfect solution for everyone. Which one is right for you?

The product that started it all: our original Nightguard. It's meant for those who suffer from mild to moderate bruxism, all while remaining thin and flexible for maximum comfort. There's no easier way to get yourself a customized nightguard — fitting the guard to your mouth takes only a couple of minutes. Plus, it's easily remoldable.

The Hard Surface Nightguard was designed to stand up to even the most intense clenching. Like the original Nightguard, it's made of our patented Vistamaxx material that ensures a snug, dentist's-office-quality fit. And both the Nightguard and Hard Surface Nightguard stay germ-free and crystal-clear with a simple cleaning routine. For the ultimate in convenience, pick up a bottle of our spray-and-go All Natural Oral Appliance Cleaner.

Where Can You Get a High-Quality, Affordable Nightguard?

Now that you know the answer to the question “Is clenching your teeth bad?”, take a proactive approach and snap up a CustMbite nightguard today. You'll likely feel results as soon as you start wearing it. Clenching your teeth is a harmful, hard-to-break habit, but our nightguards can help to ease its effects. Pick up your own CustMbite Nightguard today and enjoy waking up feeling pain-free and refreshed.

Your comfort is our highest priority.

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Reviewed by:

Monroe Elkin, BS PHARM., DMD

Monroe Elkin got a Bachelors of Science in Pharmacy at Brooklyn College of Pharmacy in Brooklyn, New York. He then earned a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry at the University of Rutgers School of Dentistry in Newark New Jersey. Dr. Elkin owned and operated his own dental practices for 29 years where he specialized in treating oral injuries for athletes, fabricated custom fitted mouth guards and performed both general and trauma dentistry for athletes at Wagner College as dentist for the athletic department. He also performed cosmetic dentistry including implants, crown and bridges, bonding and endodontics. Dr. Elkin has been a part of 3 publications and has held various positions volunteering for organizations that are about sports dentistry and oral care.

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