Aren’t sure if you need to wear a custom night guard? If so, it’s important that you take action right away to protect your oral health. We recommend scheduling an appointment with one of our dentists in Ann Arbor, and Plymouth, MI, to determine whether a night guard is the right treatment option for you.
Wearing a night guard for teeth grinding can help protect teeth, alleviate pain and discomfort, improve sleep quality, and reduce the risk of developing dental issues.
Here’s what else you need to know.
What is a Night Guard?
A night guard is an oral appliance that you wear while you sleep. In most cases, it fits over your upper teeth and provides a barrier between the biting surfaces of your smile. That way, you’re biting down on the protective material of your night guard as opposed to wearing down your teeth’s enamel.
If our dentists detect worn tooth enamel during your next routine teeth cleaning visit, they may recommend that you start wearing a custom night guard.
Wearing a night guard allows you to reap the following benefits.
1. Protect Your Tooth Enamel
Night guards help protect teeth from the damage caused by grinding or clenching, which can wear down the enamel, chip or crack teeth, and even lead to tooth loss.
2. Alleviate Pain and Discomfort
Teeth grinding can cause pain and discomfort in the jaw, neck, and head. Wearing a custom night guard can help alleviate this pain and discomfort by reducing the pressure on the jaw muscles.
3. Improve Sleep Quality
Teeth grinding can disrupt sleep and cause insomnia. Wearing a night guard can help reduce grinding and clenching, which can improve sleep quality.
4. Reduce Your Risk of TMJ Disorders
can increase your risk of developing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, which can cause pain, stiffness, and limited jaw movement. Wearing a night guard can help reduce the risk of developing these disorders.
5. Saving Money on Dental Treatments
By preventing tooth damage and reducing the risk of developing dental issues, wearing a can help save money on costly treatments down the line.
6. Minimize Headaches
Bruxism can lead to headaches, and wearing a night guard can help alleviate this symptom. If you’re prone to getting migraines, you may also notice a reduction in migraine episodes once you start wearing your custom teeth grinding guard on a nightly basis.
7. Protect Dental Restorations
If you have dental restorations such as crowns or bridges, wearing a night guard can help protect them from damage caused by grinding and clenching.
8. Reduce Snoring
In some cases, bruxism can lead to snoring. Wearing a night guard can help reduce the severity of snoring by keeping the airway open and reducing pressure on the jaw muscles.
9. Improve Your Relationship with Your Partner
Does your partner complain about hearing your teeth squeak at night? If you have undiagnosed bruxism, it’s possible that you’re waking your partner up during the night while you’re clenching or grinding your teeth. A custom night guard will help stock bruxism in its tracks so both you and your partner can get a good night’s sleep.
10. Improve Overall Oral Health
By protecting teeth from damage caused by bruxism, a night guard can help improve overall oral health. This can include reducing the risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and other dental issues.
Schedule a Night Guard Consultation
Our dentists in Plymouth, Ann Arbor, MI, are accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment and learn if you’re a candidate for a custom night guard, please call one of our convenient Morse Dental Group locations. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
This blog post has been updated.