Night Guard People who grind teeth and clench their jaw are likely to suffer dental problems such as cavities, bite misalignment, and a painful jaw. Bruxism is a condition that manifests when you clench, gnash, or grind your teeth. You can grind and clench your jaw while awake or at night, but many people tend to grind their teeth at night. If you are having unexplained jaw pain in the morning or severe headaches, you may be dealing with bruxism. When you grind or clench your teeth, the pressure you exert on thm can break or fracture your teeth. It is also possible that the immense pressure could wear down the teeth, thus making them more vulnerable to decay and cavities. If you know that you grind or clench your teeth, you can reduce the damage it does by wearing a night mouthguard. Our team at Jerome Riddle DDS makes custom-fit mouthguards to help protect your bite from the effects of grinding and clenching.Types of NightguardsNight mouthguards may be classified based on the materials they are made from, as the American Sleep Association points out. Hard nightguards are constructed from acrylic material and serve to treat temporomandibular joint dysfunction as well as extreme jaw clenching and teeth grinding. Stock mouthguards or over-the-counter nightguards are obtained from drug stores and are usually pre-formed to fit any mouth. They are, therefore, one-size-fits-all pieces, meaning that they may not work optimally for some people. Additionally, you can get the boil-and-bite nightguard, which you put in hot water to soften the plastic before biting into it so that it fits better. What you need to know is that using these over-the-counter and boil-and-bite nightguards can make the bite shift. The reason is, that they are not created specifically for your teeth. The other type, which are the most preferred, are the custom-made night mouthguards. These are designed from an impression or model of your mouth. This way, they fit comfortably and perfectly. If you ensure proper care of the customized mouthguards, they can survive for several years. Nightguards vs. Sports MouthguardsAlthough both sports mouthguards and nightguards are typically mouthguards, they serve different purposes. Therefore, you should not confuse them or substitute their use. For instance, you cannot use sports mouthguards as a nightguard piece because it can cause more harm than good. A sports mouthguard provides coverage to the gums and teeth to prevent harm from blunt force trauma. Therefore, if you attempt to wear a sports mouthguard during sleep, you increase the risk of trapping bacteria on the gums. The sports mouthguards prevent saliva from getting to the gums, therefore, the mouth does not benefit from the saliva flow. Since saliva aids in neutralizing acids in the mouth that lead to cavities, and cleanses food particles from the gums and teeth, it naturally helps prevent plaque. We do not recommend that you use your sports mouthguard as a nightguard. Instead, we can custom-fabricate a nightguard that works effectively to protect your mouth from the negative effects of grinding and clenching. Visit us today at Jerome Riddle DDS to get your nightguard. Schedule an appointment by dialing 480-991-4410. |
