Do you suffer from teeth grinding or clenching? Then a dental night guard can be a great way to protect your teeth and enjoy a good night’s sleep. You may have experienced uncomfortable dental treatments and want to prevent them in the future. If so, a night guard may be the solution. Keep reading to learn more about night guards and how one may help prevent painful dental conditions in the future.
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How a Night Guard Works
A night guard is a dental device that protects your teeth from nighttime grinding and clenching. You wear it over the top and bottom teeth while you sleep. While wearing it, it keeps your teeth from coming into contact with each other.
The night guard acts as a cushion that absorbs the force of the clenching and grinding. So your teeth don’t suffer from the wear and tear that can occur. With regular use of one, you can enjoy the benefits of improved oral health, better sleep, and reduced sensitivity. The night guard also reduces the risk of developing headaches and jaw pain.
It Prevents Teeth Grinding
A night guard prevents teeth grinding by providing a cushion between your top and bottom teeth. As mentioned, this cushion prevents your teeth from coming into contact with each other. Plus, it reduces the amount of abrasion on your teeth. When you wear a night guard, you wake up relaxed since the guard offers protection.
It Reduces Jaw Pain
Night guards also provide some additional dental benefits. They’re designed to reduce the pressure on your jaw, which can help with long-term jaw pain. They can also reduce the risk of TMJ disorder, a condition caused by grinding your teeth.
It Allows Your Teeth to Heal
A dental night guard is a great way to protect your teeth and help them heal. It protects your teeth from grinding and excessive wear and tear. So, in turn, it reduces the damage, decay, and erosion that can happen to your teeth. The night guard also prevents teeth from coming in contact with each other. This reduces the risk of painful toothaches, fractures, and other dental issues.
Additionally, there’s less tension in the jaw. So, you may experience fewer headaches and TMJ pain (more on this next). Finally, with the dental night guard, your teeth can heal and stay healthy, providing you with a beautiful and healthy smile.
It Reduces Headaches
A night guard can also prevent headaches and jaw pain caused by grinding and clenching. Typically, grinding your teeth results in headaches. So, the cushion between the teeth reduces the direct pressure on the teeth and, thus, prevents headaches. They also help position the jaw in a more natural, comfortable position. So there’s less strain on the muscles and joints in the jaw.
Fewer Trips to the Dentist
When wearing a night guard, you may not have to go to the dentist as often.
Since it’s less likely that you’ll grind your teeth at night, it can reduce the need for dental work. It also reduces the risk of cavities, gum disease, and tooth enamel erosion. All can lead to costly dental treatments. By protecting your teeth from damage, a night guard can help you keep your mouth healthy.
Less Tooth Erosion
Dental benefits night guards are a great way to protect teeth from erosion. Tooth erosion results from acid damaging the tooth enamel. When the tooth erodes, it can lead to cavities, sensitivity, and even tooth loss.
Night guards provide a barrier between the teeth and the acid in the mouth. And thus, it reduces the chance of acid damaging the teeth. They can also prevent the occurrence of teeth grinding during sleep. Unfortunately, teeth grinding can cause tooth erosion. So, a night guard is ideal since it prevents how much you grind your teeth.
Night guards come in different sizes and shapes. A dentist can customize it to fit your mouth. Proper use of a night guard can stop the damage of tooth erosion and keep your smile healthy.
Conclusion
Dental benefits night guards are a great way to protect your teeth from grinding. Plus, it can help with conditions like snoring and headaches. The cost of a night guard can be minimal compared to dental work. If you think a night guard may be a good solution, get in touch with your dentist.
After all, dental work can get expensive, depending on much your teeth are damaged. Therefore, a night guard is an affordable solution and can help ensure your smile looks its best.
