8 months ago
WASHINGTON (WUSA)-- Rafael Roman never paid attention to a slight nagging pain in the back of his mouth, until it got a lot worse.
"I was getting this pain that was going up and shooting down my jaw. I had a constant headache from the constant grinding, even at night. I was sensitive to heat, foods, cold, in other words, different temperatures and sweets," Roman explains.
Dr. Gary Ellenbogen with General and Cosmetic Dentistry in Vienna Virginia says teeth grinding is common. Grinding of the teeth becomes a real problem when the enamel is worn through so much a patient hits the next surface called the dentin.
"For Rafael, if nothing is done, his teeth will get shorter and shorter. There are little nerve fibers that we call dentual tubulars that have direct connection with the pulp which is the nerve of the tooth,"explains Dr. Ellenbogen.
Dr.Ellenbogen says mouth guards are the number one way to protect the teeth. He says one developed by dentists called NTI prevents grinding and clenching of the jaw and may even relieve headaches.
Some dentists, Dr Ellenbogen says, refer to an NTI as a taco shell.
"It has this little element that only fits on the first four teeth," he says.
An over the counter alternative called the Dentek standard night guard will help protect your teeth, and it is easy to use. Simply dip in warm water and then mold to your teeth. However, the soft plastic isn't as durable, so you may need to buy a few.
Next, Dr. Ellenbogen says stay away from a new line of mouth guards with movable adjustments. They won't help prevent grinding or wear and tear of the enamel.
Rafael ended up needing porcelain veneers to realign his bite and he still wears a mouth guard to protect his teeth.
Rafael says he's a testament that, "Most people don't worry about it until it's too late!"
Written by Lauren Vance
9NEWS NOW and wusa9.com
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