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Let’s face it, grinding and clenching your teeth in your sleep can be uncomfortable. You can wake up with pain and tension that can lead to other health issues. Sometimes, you’re not even aware of what’s causing you so much discomfort when you wake up.

However, there might be an excellent solution for your sleeping concerns. A dental night guard can help you sleep better and prevent further damage to your teeth. Read on to learn why you should consider wearing a dental night guard.

What is a Dental Night Guard?

Did you know some people suffer from a dental condition known as Bruxism? If you ever find yourself grinding or clenching your teeth when awake or asleep, you might be showing symptoms of this dental condition. According to experts, the leading cause of Bruxism is stress.

But what can you do to reduce the effects of Bruxism from causing damage to your teeth? A dental night guard could be your solution. This retainer piece, similar to teeth retainers that are either hard or soft, helps to cover your teeth while you sleep. The great news is that your dentist will customise your night guard to suit your unique teeth set

What to Consider for Your Dental Night Guard

Firstly, confusing a dental mouth guard with a sports mouth guard is easy. The latter shouldn’t be used to fix your dental concerns; it can cause more damage than good. For instance, in sports, a mouth guard is used to protect your gums and teeth; as a result, if you wear it at night, it can trap many bacteria and cause dental issues.

On the other hand, a mouth guard to fix your Bruxism must avoid causing any dental problems. It’s necessary to consult with your dentist about your concerns and to get the correct dental mouth guard. Here are a few things to note when considering a dental night guard.

• The materials used should differ from a sports mouthguard to provide sleeping comfort.
• How much does it cost?
• How long will it last until you need to replace it?
• Your dental concerns and the condition of your teeth.
• How to clean and care for it.

5 Reasons Why You Should Use a Dental Night Guard

Now that you know what a dental mouth guard is and why it’s different from a sports mouth guard, you should understand why you should consider using it. Here are the five reasons a dental night guard is ideal for you.

It Prevents Teeth Damage

The fact is that when you’re asleep you’re not in control of your teeth grinding and clenching. The more you do it, the more you damage your teeth and ruin your tooth enamel. When your tooth enamel wears down, it can lead to other dental issues, such as teeth sensitivity.

In addition, your teeth are likely to decay, crack and develop infections. A dental night guard helps protect your teeth from the damage of incontrollable grinding.

It Reduces Jaw Pain and Prevents Teeth Misalignment

When you clench your teeth, it affects your jaw joint and muscles responsible for your jaw movement. This can also cause tension and pain in your jawline. As a result, you can develop a disorder known as temporomandibular joint dysfunction. 

Another thing that you should expect is your teeth to be misaligned. Using a dental night guard can help reduce your jaw pain and tension. And it can prevent your teeth from shifting.

Preventing Chronic Headaches

Do you wake up with headaches and neck pain you can’t explain? If you suffer from Bruxism, you’re likely straining your jaw and neck muscles while sleeping. This tension causes chronic headaches over time.

However, it would help if you didn’t rush to diagnose yourself with Bruxism. It’s necessary to consult with your dentist to determine if your headaches are caused by grinding your teeth or another underlying medical concern. If you use a dental night guard, it will stop the grinding and may help prevent these chronic headaches. 

It Can Prevent Snoring

Snoring is okay if you live alone. It starts to be a problem if you have a partner or when you go away on holiday with your loved ones. It’s crucial to address the issue before it becomes too much for other people to deal with. 

The good news is that you don’t have to have Bruxism to use a dental night guard to help with your snoring. It improves your breathing by separating your jaws and increasing the air supply as you sleep. You will no longer need to tell everyone to get earplugs before you sleep next to them. 

It Saves You Money

In this challenging economic climate, this should be the main reason you should consider a dental night guard. The truth is that teeth damage caused by your uncontrolled grinding and clenching can be costly. If you leave it long enough, your teeth can require extensive dental procedures to fix them.

The sooner you consult with your dentist to get to the root cause, the more money you’ll save in the long run. A dental night guard can keep you from paying thousands of rands to get crowns or dentures to protect your teeth. 

Dental Night Guard Side Effects and How to Deal with Them

As much as dental night guards come with significant money-saving benefits, there are some side effects that you should be aware of. This is common, and it’s best to talk to your dentist if you notice any issues. The following are dental night guard effects and tips to deal with them.

• They can cause minor discomfort and irritation when you first use them. This may be a fit issue and you might have to get a custom one made.
• Sometimes you can get dry mouth. Ensure that you speak to your dentist if this doesn’t go away.
• They can cause bad breath when you don’t clean them correctly. Practice good hygiene and brush your teeth before you use your dental night guard.

In summary, a dental night guard is an effective way to help you with your severe teeth grinding. It’s necessary to know why you need to get one. Essentially, you get many benefits from using one.

If you need to find out if you suffer from Bruxism, contact an network dentist.