Mouthguards in Wausau, WI
Headache disorders are a common condition affecting nearly 1-in-2 adults. They can range from mildly annoying to completely debilitating. Tension headaches and migraine headaches are two common types of headache disorder, and if you are afflicted with them, they can have a seriously detrimental effect on your quality of life.
While many people who suffer from tension and migraine headaches feel like they’ve tried everything to make them stop, they may have missed a common culprit – their teeth. A condition known as bruxism that causes clenching and grinding of the teeth can lead to a number of additional concerns including facial and jaw pain, erosion of the teeth, neck pain, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ/TMD), and even tension and migraine headaches.
How Can a Dentist Treat My Migraines?
If you feel like you’ve tried everything to get rid of your tension or migraine headaches and nothing seems to be working, please give our office a call. Many people don’t even realize that they clench or grind their teeth because it happens at night while they are sleeping. Dr. Kim will perform a thorough examination to look for the telltale signs of bruxism.
If bruxism does appear to be a factor in your headaches, we can treat your headaches by stopping the grinding and the clenching. One of the ways we do this is with a variety of oral appliances and night guards.
Night Guards and Oral Appliances
Your night guard or oral appliance will be custom-made to fit your mouth perfectly. Night guards are designed to prevent your teeth from touching while they sleep and to hold your mouth in a slack position. This prevents further damage to your teeth and irritation of your nerves caused by the tightening of your facial muscles.
Many of the most common headache treatments require you to quickly take medication or even give yourself an injection as soon as you feel the first signs of a headache. You may have also logged your diet carefully trying to identify “trigger foods” that need to be avoided. Night guards work to prevent headaches from ever developing. You will get a good night’s sleep, and soon, your tension and migraine headaches will become a thing of the past.
Types of Night Guards and Oral Appliances
Depending on your needs, we may recommend an oral appliance that can be worn around the clock or a guard that is only worn while you sleep. Appliances that are worn throughout the day are designed to be practically invisible, and nobody will ever know that you are wearing one.
Some night guards are designed to create a barrier between your teeth while others work by realigning your bite so that your back teeth can’t touch. One of the night guards we offer that is popular with our patients is the NTI-tss Plus, a small device that is worn between your front teeth. Patients really appreciate the smaller size and comfortable fit.
Contact Us
Don’t let grinding, clenching, and headaches run your life. Contact our Wausau dental office today to schedule your examination and consultation with Dr. James Kim.