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How Effective Are Dental Night Guards?

2022-05-02

Dental night guards are custom-made teeth coverings that avoid the direct contact of teeth when sleeping and prevent any kind of teeth damage from occurring from pressure. To know if they are the quick fix to your problem, read the following categories because they can be helpful in case you are diagnosed with any of the following issues:

 

Obstructive Sleep Apnea:

 

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the palate and the throat tissues relax while sleeping. The lower jaw doesn't remain in the desired location. It may cause obstructive breathing because the airway becomes narrow. Dental night guards help maintain the lower position and allow the air to pass smoothly, thus resolving the breathing problems of obstructive sleep apnea. These mouth guards are custom-made according to the specific shapes of your teeth for a proper fit.

 

Bruxism (Teeth grinding):

  

Teeth grinding happens when you are not in your senses, and most people grind their teeth while sleeping. It becomes severe with time and can be very harmful to your teeth as grinding puts a lot of pressure on your teeth. This pressure creates friction between the teeth and damages the teeth' enamel. The erosions of enamel can make you lose the natural shine of your teeth and cause over-sensitivity. Wearing night guards can help you maintain the enamel layer when you wear them while sleeping because they do not cause friction as the teeth do not come in contact directly.

 

Prevents Temporomandibular Misalignment:

 

People with teeth grinding and clenching habits put a lot of pressure on their teeth during sleep. The force can not only dislocate the teeth and make them weak but can also cause damage to the jaw bone, i.e., the mandible. The dislocation of the temporomandibular joint brings complications like pain in the ear, difficulty in chewing, and misalignment. Sometimes, if not treated on time, it can affect the articular disc, which cannot be recovered. So, wearing dental night guards can also help to maintain your TMJ and prevent its dysfunction if you have the habit of teeth grinding or clenching

 

Difference Between Sports Mouth-Guard and Dental Night-Guard:

  

Some people confuse sports mouth-guard with night guards, but they are opposite and meant for different purposes. A sports mouth guard is hard and protects both gums and teeth from blunt injuries while playing. It is not custom-made and has one shape and size for all the players. On the other hand, a dental night guard protects your teeth and jawbone from putting pressure and keeps them aligned.

 

Conclusion:

 

A nightguard is not only for teeth grinding and clenching, but it can also prevent the spread of cavities. Getting the right nightguard that allows saliva to contact your teeth is most important because saliva neutralizes the acids and kills germs. So, avoid using the guards with no holes in them. If you fall in any category mentioned above, consult your dentist to get them the perfect and right type of dental night guard.

 

For more information about dental night guard, Contact your Walnut Creek dentist, Dr. Darvishzadeh at Walnut Creek Dental.

 

Resource:

 

Diet And Oral Health

 

This media/content or any other on this website does not prescribe, recommend, or prevent any treatment or procedure. Therefore, we highly recommend that you get the advice of a qualified dentist or other medical practitioners regarding your specific dental condition   


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