The Ultimate Guide to Dental Night Guards

Barry LeJeune • July 11, 2022

Are you new to using a dental night guard? Read on for the ultimate guide to dental night guards that will answer all of your questions.

Bruxism is chronic teeth grinding, which can lead to serious tooth damage. Between 30-40 million Americans grind their teeth at night. If you grind your teeth at night, then you could be placing up to 200 pounds of pressure per square inch on your teeth.

The type of damage it causes can require implants, root canals, or even dentures. Dental night guards are a type of appliance that can prevent this type of damage from happening at night as well as poor nighttime breathing. If you're considering wearing a night guard, then you'll want to conduct some research.

To start your research, continue reading below. Here's everything your dentist in Hampton, VA wants you to know about dental night guards!

What Does a Night Guard Do?

Is a night guard the right option for you? There are a few good reasons to wear a night guard, but your dentist is the best person to speak with when considering wearing one. You and your dentist can discuss your current oral health issues, the benefits of wearing a night guard, and what makes a good candidate for one.

Here are several common reasons why you could benefit from wearing a night guard.

Prevent Teeth Damage

Teeth grinding usually happens at night while you're sleeping and is when you involuntary clench, gnash, or grind your teeth. Stress and the use of drugs can cause you to grind your teeth at night. Some people even grind their teeth while awake.

Unfortunately, teeth grinding can lead to enamel and tooth damage. Because most people grind their teeth at night, one sure way to confirm it's happening is to visit your dentist. Your dentist can look at your teeth and determine if teeth grinding is happening at night.

They can then go over treatment options, which will most likely include wearing a night guard.

Prevent Headaches

Wearing a night guard can also help prevent chronic headaches. When you grind your teeth at night, it's also common to experience tension in the neck, shoulder, mouth, and jaw muscles. This tension then leads to headaches.

If your headaches are caused by teeth grinding, then a night guard can help relieve some of this tension and reduce your headaches.

Prevent TMJ Disorder

TMJ is your temporomandibular joint. It connects your skull with your jaw and has a direct effect on the muscles you use to chew. When you grind your teeth or clench your teeth at night, it places tension and pressure on the TMJ.

This can then cause the TMJ to become misaligned, leading to TMJ disorder. Wearing your night guard can help prevent TMJ disorder from occurring.

Save Money

A quick internet search will show you various night guard options. There are several types of night guards available and many can be bought online or over the counter. These are some of the most inexpensive dental service options.

However, you want to visit your dentist to have a night guard made specifically for your teeth. The cost varies but is usually several hundred dollars. In the long run, you save money because it'll prevent you from seeking expensive dental care in the future for the dental issues it can prevent.

Have Your Night Guard Customized

Having your night guard customized is essential for a couple of reasons. If you don't have a night guard customized for your specific teeth, then it won't fit as snug as it should. This can then allow saliva and bacteria to build around your teeth while you sleep.

It can also be uncomfortable to wear a night guard that's not customized for your teeth. A customized night guard from your dentist will be comfortable and of high quality to ensure the best results possible.

How to Care For Your Night Guard

Another way to ensure your night guard lasts several years is to take proper care of it. To do this, you should clean yours on a regular basis. Rinse the night guard with warm water after using.

Take a soft-bristled toothbrush and a small amount of toothpaste and clean it. Rinse it once more and allow it to dry completely before placing it in its storage container. You should also clean the storage container at least three times a week using soap and water.

This will prevent bacteria from building inside of it. Last, find a dry place to store your night guard even when it's in the storage container. The bathroom can get humid, so a closet or draw space is ideal.

A Great Dentist in Hampton, VA Will Help With Dental Night Guards

Grinding and clenching your teeth at night can lead to serious tooth damage and other dental health issues. Unfortunately, you don't have control over this when asleep. To gain back some control over your oral health while sleeping, you should consider wearing dental night guards customized by your dentist in Hampton, VA.

LeJeune Family Dentistry offers a variety of dental services including dental appliances for teeth grinding. Schedule an appointment today to see how we can help you!

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