
When you’re among the top players in your field, you need every advantage to help you stay competitive: Not just the best equipment, but anything else that relieves pain and stress, and allows you to play better. For top-seeded Canadian tennis player Milos Raonic, that extra help came in a somewhat unexpected form: a custom made mouthguard that he wears on the court and off. “[It helps] to not grind my teeth while I play,” said the 25-year-old up-and-coming ace. “It just causes stress and headaches sometimes.”
Mouthguards are often worn by athletes engaged in sports that carry the risk of dental injury — such as basketball, football, hockey, and some two dozen others; wearing one is a great way to keep your teeth from being seriously injured. But Raonic’s mouthguard isn’t primarily for safety; it’s actually designed to help him solve the problem of teeth grinding, or bruxism. This habitual behavior causes him to unconsciously tense up his jaw, potentially leading to problems with muscles and teeth.
Bruxism is a common issue that’s often caused or aggravated by stress. You don’t have to be a world-class athlete to suffer from this condition: Everyday anxieties can have the same effect. The behavior is often worsened when you consume stimulating substances, such as alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and other drugs.
While bruxism affects thousands of people, some don’t even suspect they have it. That’s because it may occur at any time — even while you’re asleep! The powerful jaw muscles that clench and grind teeth together can wear down tooth enamel, and damage both natural teeth and dental work. They can even cause loose teeth! What’s more, a clenching and grinding habit can result in pain, headaches and muscle soreness… which can really put you off your game.
There are several ways to relieve the problem of bruxism. Stress reduction is one approach that works in some cases. When it’s not enough, a custom made occlusal guard (also called a night guard or mouthguard) provided by our office can make a big difference. “When I don’t sleep with it for a night,” Raonic said “I can feel my jaw muscles just tense up the next day. I don’t sense myself grinding but I can sort of feel that difference the next day.”
 An occlusal guard is made from an exact model of your own mouth. It helps to keep your teeth in better alignment and prevent them from coming into contact, so they can’t damage each other. It also protects your jaw joints from being stressed by excessive force. Plus, it’s secure and comfortable to wear. “I wear it all the time other than when I’m eating, so I got used to it pretty quickly,” said Raonic.
Teeth grinding can be a big problem — whether you put on your game face on the court… or at home. If you would like more information about bruxism, contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Stress & Tooth Habits” and “When Children Grind Their Teeth.”
Comments:

Dentist - Marietta
707 Whitlock Ave. SW,
Suite B22 Marietta, GA 30064
(770) 424-7525
Patient Education
Archive:
- 2022
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
Tags
- dental implants (26)
- celebrity smiles (70)
- bridgework (2)
- dental injury (6)
- mouthguard (2)
- athletic mouthguards (2)
- dental anxiety (1)
- TMJ Pain (1)
- dental injuries (2)
- oral hygiene (26)
- pediatric care (1)
- crown lengthening (1)
- cosmetic dentistry (19)
- Dentures (13)
- oral health (19)
- tooth grinding (1)
- orthodontics (7)
- retainers (5)
- bad breath (1)
- wisdom teeth (7)
- x-rays (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- crowns (6)
- teeth whitening (6)
- braces (7)
- sedation dentistry (2)
- pediatric dentistry (16)
- bulimia (1)
- orthognathic surgery (1)
- jaw surgery (1)
- porcelain veneers (2)
- veneers (5)
- nutrition (7)
- tooth decay (8)
- fluoride (2)
- missing teeth (3)
- mouth sores (1)
- dental emergency (1)
- sugar (1)
- dental crowns (4)
- dental bridges (3)
- restorative dentistry (4)
- toothache (2)
- tmj disorders (2)
- mouthguards (2)
- apioectomy (1)
- chipped tooth (3)
- dental bonding (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- periodontal disease (1)
- tooth loss (2)
- orthodontic treatment (19)
- bonding (1)
- jaw pain (4)
- tmj (5)
- gum disease (19)
- laser dentistry (2)
- headgear (1)
- smile makeover (1)
- topical fluoride (1)
- cosmetic contouring (1)
- baby teeth (1)
- cancer (1)
- periodontal surgery (1)
- gummy smile (1)
- sinus surgery (1)
- bone grafting (2)
- tooth pain (3)
- teeth grinding (2)
- diabetes (2)
- gum recession (2)
- oral cancer (2)
- trigeminal neuralgia (1)
- facial pain (1)
- Damaged Teeth (1)
- Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures (1)
- sports drinks (1)
- smoking (2)
- thumb sucking (1)
- eating disorder (1)
- Dental Implant (4)
- apicoectomy (1)
- retainer (2)
- root canal treatment (6)
- tooth wear (1)
- extraction (2)
- chipped teeth (1)
- cleft lip (1)
- cleft palate (1)
- oral surgery (3)
- TMJ/TMD (1)
- dental cleaning (1)
- tooth replacement (1)
- Crowns and Bridges (3)
- root canal (1)
- fillings (1)
- Partial Dentures (1)
- Full Dentures (1)
- sealants (1)
- sleep apnea (2)
- snoring (2)
- lingual braces (1)
- dental care (2)
- Dentist in Marietta GA (1)
- Bridges (1)
- Dentistry (1)
- loose teeth (1)
- aging (1)
- Dental Veneers (1)
- tmj disorder (1)
- partial denture (1)
- Toothaches (1)