Do I Need A Night Guard?
Do you always wake up with unexplained pain or soreness in your jaw, abrasions in your tongue, or headaches? You could be someone who suffers from a condition called Bruxism. Bruxism is a condition where people grind, clench, or gnash their teeth during sleep.
The force applied to your teeth when you grind or clench it during sleep is so strong it could move your teeth out of alignment and cause damage. It could destroy your smile, and you may have to spend lots of money on dental treatments. Read on to gain insight on whether or not you may need to schedule a consultation for a night guard.
What is Bruxism?
Bruxism can happen when awake, but most people won't know they grind their teeth when sleeping. Around 10 to 15 percent of adults have sleep bruxism. Bruxism can be triggered by stress, anxiety, depression, and other causes.
Some of the symptoms to watch out for include:
• Pain or stiffness in the jaw
• Wear or chips on your teeth
• Headaches when you wake up
• Abrasions along the side of your tongue
• Restlessness during sleep
The good news is you can prevent teeth grinding and clenching by using a night guard.
What is a night guard?
A night guard, or a dental guard, is a device worn over the teeth to protect them from grinding or clenching during sleep. A night guard, also called a bite guard, can help prevent damage to the teeth and jaw and decrease or eliminate headaches and other symptoms associated with Bruxism.
Night guards are custom-made to fit the individual's mouth and teeth. They can be made from different materials, including soft plastic, hard acrylic, or gel. Wearing a night guard helps prevent tooth damage from grinding or clenching, and it can also help reduce noise during sleep.
Benefits of using a night guard
Wearing a night guard has several advantages. It will relieve your suffering from bruxism symptoms. Here are some benefits of wearing a night guard.
1. It improves sleep.
Wearing a night guard can help you get a good night's sleep. A night guard will help decrease the pain you feel from grinding your teeth. You will also improve the rest of others if you share a room with others, especially if you grind your teeth aloud.
2. It prevents damage to your teeth.
Teeth grinding and clenching during sleep can damage your tooth by chipping, cracking, and fracturing, eventually damaging your smile. While a night guard can't stop your Bruxism, it will provide a protective barrier that prevents your teeth from getting damaged.
3. It lessens tooth and jaw pain.
If you gnash, grind or clench your teeth during sleep, you could wake up with a painful jaw, but a night guard will help prevent
4. It decreases or eliminates headaches.
Morning headaches are one of the symptoms of teeth grinding and cleaning. Whenever you grind or clench your teeth during sleep, you put pressure on your head, jaw and ears, and you could wake up with a headache or neck pain. Using a night guard will help control or stop the headaches when you wake up.
5. It decreases snoring.
Snoring is a problem, especially if you share a room with others. A night guard will create a narrow passage between your jaws and increase the airflow, allowing you to breathe better, and eliminating or decreasing your snoring. It will help you, and everyone in the same room will enjoy a good night's sleep.
6. It helps you save money.
A night guard helps stop your teeth from grinding or clenching. The cost is a small investment compared to what you will eventually need to spend for dental treatments to repair damaged teeth and restore your smile.
Types of night guards and where you can get them
There are two kinds of night guards: Custom bite guards and over-the-counter night guards.
Custom night Guard
You have to visit your dentist for a custom night guard. The dentist will create a mold by taking an impression of your teeth and sending it to the lab, which will fabricate your night guard. Custom night guards are made of either hard, soft, or hybrid material.
The night guard may initially feel strange and uncomfortable, but you will get used to it. The bite guard will not interfere with your breathing; you can normally talk with it. One advantage of a custom night guard is the dentist will ensure it is in proper alignment and won't fall out while you are asleep.
OTC night guard
Over-the-counter or OTC night guards are the cheaper option you can buy from your local drug store or online retailers without a prescription. You can get either one of the two types of OTC night guards- the one-size type that fits all or the boil and bite type where you need to boil to soften it and then bite into it to create a fit for your mouth. OTC bite guards are not ideal for long-term use as they tend to shift the bite because they are not customized for your teeth.
The cost of a night guard will vary depending on the material used, specifications you need, size, and brand.
Bottom Line
Do you need a night guard? If you wake up with any of the symptoms of teeth grinding, you may need a night guard. If you want to protect any damage to your teeth from damage and future dental problems, you might need a night guard.
Our experts can diagnose you accurately and provide the information that you need. Visit our website or call us for a consultation today at (204) 900-0161.
