Tooth clenching and grinding are prevalent oral habits that are classified as nighttime sleep motion disorders. Clenching and grinding can occur subconsciously during the day but most commonly occurs at night. Clenching is the aggressive biting down of the upper and lower jaws together, and grinding is when the jaws move aggressively across each other, causing friction on the tooth surfaces. Nightguards act as a buffer or cushion between the upper and lower teeth to prevent tooth-on tooth trauma.
A night guard made of acrylic and is removable. It is used to prevent the surfaces of your teeth from grinding together and chipping or fracturing. It is used to treat bruxism, which is the habitual grinding of the teeth, which can be done either voluntarily or involuntary. Most grinding usually occurs at night when you are sleeping.