Tooth enamel is one of the hardest parts of the teeth, making it possible for you to break down and chew food. Despite being the strongest, our teeth need protection against hitting, grinding, and other impacts. Some people grind their teeth at night or have sleep disorders that damage their teeth. If you are affected by these conditions, you need to have a night mouthguard. A night mouthguard is a device placed in your mouth to protect your teeth and mouth against teeth grinding and other sleeping disorders that affect the teeth. Smile Family Dentistry can help in checking the condition of your teeth and offer you the best night mouthguard to protect your teeth while asleep.
There are three types of night mouthguards, which our dentist can recommend depending on your condition. These include the night mouthguards for grinding, night mouthguards for TMJ problems, and the night mouthguards for other sleeping disorders. Just like the name, night mouthguards for grinding are for individuals who clench or grind their teeth while asleep. This grinding makes their teeth wear out, chip, or crack. Other signs of this disorder include waking up with headaches, painful muscles, or damage to your cheeks. Teeth grinding can be caused by sleeping disorders, stress, acid reflux, a misaligned bite, and any relevant underlying medical conditions. A dentist will recommend wearing these grinding night guards to protect your teeth from the mentioned conditions.
Night mouthguards for TMJ are also used to protect the teeth from damage when one is asleep. TMJ is a condition caused by arthritis, jaw injuries, and misaligned teeth. Wearing a night mouthguard enables the jaw muscles to recover and prevents damage to the teeth. For individuals who suffer from sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea, the mouthguard helps alleviate the condition, making one breath and sleep peacefully.
The night mouthguard should not interfere with your sleeping and breathing routine. When you visit our professionals, they will guide you in choosing the best mouthguard, depending on your condition. The mouthguard should be easy to fit, comfortable, tear-resistant, and long-lasting. You can either choose a standard mouthguard, a boil and bite mouthguard, or a customizable mouthguard.
Customized night guards are more effective and comfortable since they are made to fit. During the first appointment, our professionals will take an impression of your teeth and mouth region to design the perfect fitting customized mouthguard. During the second appointment, we fit your mouthguard and you pick it up if it’s a perfect fit. If not, the necessary adjustments will be made to ensure comfortability.
Mouthguards, just like your teeth, need to be cleaned and sanitized to ensure they are safe from bacteria and to increase their lifespan. Leaving them unattended might lead to yeasts, bacteria, molds, and other dental infections. Therefore, it has to be brushed and be put in an antimicrobial solution regularly. Any signs of wear and tear signifies the need for replacement. For more information concerning the night mouthguards and to book an appointment with our dentist, please call Smile Family Dentistry at 925-825-1130 today.