En Guarde! Mouthguards Do More than Protect Your Teeth
You probably know that mouth guards help athletes protect their mouths from damage during sport, but you might not realize how much everyone can benefit from the use of a mouth guard, particularly when you sleep.
Many patients complain that they wake up with headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and pain in the face. These same patients are often surprised to find out that their symptoms occur because of bruxism. Bruxism is a common condition characterized by grinding the teeth and clenching the jaw. Bruxism sufferers usually grind their teeth in their sleep, but clenching can occur all day long. Symptoms can result in tooth damage, insomnia, and pain, and while stress is a primary contributor, many lifestyle factors can also increase the occurrence of bruxism. Night guards can help protect your teeth and sometimes inhibit the tendency to clench your jaw while you sleep.
Night guards can also help with jaw pain and lockjaw, as well as reducing the impacts of jaw popping and clicking as part of TMJ treatment. Patients who experience pain and discomfort that prevents them from getting enough sleep can use a night guard to help alleviate and even eliminate insomnia. Some of the many uses of mouth guards include:
Stop Tooth Damage
Teeth grinding and clenching can cause broken and chipped teeth, damaged fillings, stress cracks, and wear down your enamel, making your teeth more sensitive and susceptible to cavities. Using a sleep guard to keep your teeth from grinding against each other can save you money on pricey restoration procedures and tooth loss.
Alleviate Facial Pain and Headaches
Bruxism (grinding and clenching) and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are often accompanied by headaches, toothaches, and facial pain. You may wake up
with a sore jaw, muscle fatigue in your face, neck pain, ear aches, and even spasms in the shoulders, neck and facial muscles. Using a night guard can help to manage or even eliminate these symptoms, and personalized mouth guards can also help to alleviate TMJ-related jaw pain.
Reduce Tension and Stress
A custom-fit night guard is lightweight and comfortable, and can reduce stress in your jaw joints and muscles. By reducing this stress and alleviating the pain associated with it, you can speak, eat, and laugh without the constant experience of pain and discomfort, helping to relieve stress both day and night. Reducing stress can help minimize or even eliminate the tendency to grind and clench your teeth, allowing you to potentially avoid symptoms altogether.
Get Better Sleep
As a result of the minimization or elimination of symptoms due to bruxism or other jaw problems, patients experience less pain and can improve their overall sleep and get better, more restful sleep. Night guards can be fitted to position your jaw differently to promote muscle relaxation, creating a sense of relief in the jaw that encourages you to rest and to enjoy healthier sleep patterns.
Stop the Snoring
Bruxism and jaw problems can cause breathing problems and contribute to snoring while you sleep. For patients who snore as a side effect of clenching and grinding their teeth, a night guard can help you position your mouth so that you can breathe better and reduce snoring. You should check with your doctor if you feel like you stop breathing at night, as this could be the sign of a more serious sleep disorder.
You will need two visits to your dentist to be fitted for your mouth guard, one to make a mold of your mouth that can be used to create the guard, and a second to pick up your guard and ensure that it fits properly. Your dentist will instruct you about how to use and clean your guard when you receive it. If you are interested in a custom mouth guard, contact Hollymead Dental Arts to learn how a custom night guard can help you protect your teeth while also improving your quality of life!