(BPT) - 'Tis the season to be jolly! Or at least it should be. It can be challenging to balance hosting and attending holiday and football season get-togethers with friends and family with the chaos of holiday shopping and year-end obligations. These seasonal stressors can easily lead to a common problem: nighttime teeth grinding (also known as bruxism).
Silent night? Not so much
While it may seem to go against the spirit of the season, the holidays can bring as much stress as they do joy. In fact, an American Psychological Association study found that 41% of U.S. adults say that their stress levels increase during the holiday season compared to other points in the year.
Spending money, finding the right gifts or simply having too much to do during the holiday season can increase stress, which can lead to teeth grinding. Even if you don't notice that you grind your teeth during the day, it's very possible you're grinding away on what's supposed to be a silent night.
Teeth grinding has become more common over the past few years. According to a 2021 survey by the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute, over 70% of dentists noticed signs of teeth grinding and clenching in their patients, an increase of nearly 10% over the previous year.
Grinding your teeth may not initially sound like a bad habit, but it can wreak havoc on your smile and dampen your holiday spirit. Habitual teeth grinding can damage your teeth or jaws, and cause tension headaches along with face and jaw pain.
Stop grinding and start celebrating
How can you protect your smile from the nightly grind so you can spread the holiday cheer? If you know or suspect you're grinding your teeth at night, consider protecting your smile with a mouth guard like the DenTek Professional Fit mouth guard.
DenTek's Professional Fit dental guard offers dual-layer, full-coverage protection. The soft, cushioned upper layer molds to the shape of your teeth for a secure comfort fit. At the same time, the protective bottom layer has a strong grind shield layer to prevent bite-through.
You don't have to book an appointment at the dentist to fit your mouth guard. Molding your DenTek mouth guard is as easy as 1,2,3. All you need to do is heat, shape and wear your mouth guard at night so you can enjoy the holiday season during the day.
Keep the grind at bay all year long
This holiday season, enjoy the festivities and invest in your dental health. Pick up a mouth guard for yourself and consider adding a few more to your cart as stocking stuffers for your friends and family.
Even after the holiday season is over, your mouth guard can continue to protect your teeth year-round from other grind-inducing stress. So, whether you're concerned about how your favorite college and pro football teams will perform this season or worried about the list of 2026 to-dos, your teeth are covered.
To learn more, visit DenTek.com and head to your local Walmart to find a mouth guard of your own. Happy holidays!
