Most of us think about mouth guards in relation to high impact sports, like football, wrestling, boxing, and basketball. In these instances, mouth guards can protect teeth from the impact of a stray elbow or knee. For many Americans, however, the greatest risk of tooth destruction comes from grinding, also known as bruxism.

Though some people grind their teeth out of habit during times of stress, anxiety, or boredom, most bruxism sufferers have no idea of their affliction. That’s because they tend to grind their teeth in their sleep. Over time, teeth grinding can wear away the enamel on teeth and cause chronic headaches and jaw pain.

One very simple solution to decreasing teeth trauma and alleviating the symptoms of bruxism is for a person to simply use a mouth guard. Just as it protects teeth in contact sports, a custom-fitted mouth guard can also protect teeth from grinding to decrease trauma. If you suspect that you grind your teeth at night, talk to your dentist about ordering a custom-fitted mouth guard.