Night guards are prescribed to people who regularly clench and grind their teeth while they sleep at night—a condition technically referred to as bruxism. When this condition is left unattended, it can result in many negative consequences for your oral health. For example, grinding can wear down your teeth’s protective enamel layer, which in turn increases your risk for cavities and other oral health issues. Meanwhile, clenching your teeth can result in chipped or cracked teeth. It also places a high amount of pressure on the jaw and leads to headaches. Habits like these arise during stressful moments, or as a result of sleep apnea or certain medications.
To make you understand more about night guards and how they help with bruxism, Blooming Family Dental has compiled three crucial facts that you must know.
Night guards do not solve the problem, they serve as protection
Night guards will not prevent clenching and grinding habits at night. However, what they do is offer a protective layer that protects your teeth against wear and tear resulting from these bad habits. Wearing night guards on a regular basis can help reduce damage to teeth and dental appliances. It also minimizes jaw aches, morning headaches, and promote a night of restful sleep. Thus, it is important to take night guards seriously and wear them as prescribed.
Investing in a custom-made night guard is an excellent decision
Each mouth is different from each other; thus, wearing a generic night guard is less likely to fit in your mouth comfortably. On the other hand, wearing a properly-fitted night guard customized to your unique bite is more likely to support healthy alignment in your mouth. This avoids damaging your gums, and the oral appliance can last longer. For these reasons, it is an excellent decision to invest in custom-made night guards like the ones we offer here at Blooming Family Dental.
It takes time to adjust to your night guard
Generally, it takes a few weeks (or perhaps a month or more) for people to adjust to wearing their night guards at night. Your night guard may feel uncomfortable or distracting in the beginning, but you must remember that this is normal, and you’ll adjust to it over time. If you’ve been using your night guard for several weeks and it’s still uncomfortable, it is time to talk to your dentist about strategies or possible treatment options.
You can finally get a peaceful night’s sleep! We offer custom-made night guards under our Dental Mouth Guards in West Caldwell, NJ. Schedule an appointment with us at Blooming Family Dental to avail of this oral appliance. You can find us at 749 Bloomfield Ave., Suite D, West Caldwell, NJ 07006.
