Do you need a nightguard?

Do you need a nightguard?

Do you always experience headaches, jaw pain, or damaged teeth in the morning and wonder what’s wrong with you? If so, it’s because you grind or clench your teeth at night – a condition called bruxism. Most folks and even kids unconsciously experience this while sleeping. And it might be caused by age, personality type, intense emotions (like stress or anger), certain medications & substances, and other health conditions like sleep apnea, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and hyperactivity disorder.

Do you need a nightguard?

Yes, you require a nightguard if you grind and clench your teeth at night. In fact, most dentists recommend a nightguard for individuals suffering from bruxism! A nightguard (mouth guard or bruxism appliance) is a thin, transparent device fitted over the teeth only when sleeping to prevent the top and bottom teeth from “touching.” So it guards the teeth against any damage when someone grinds or clenches teeth at night. A correctly fitted nightguard will ultimately prevent damaging the tooth enamel as well as offering some extra cushioning to lessen jaw pain caused by bruxism.

Sure signs you require a nightguard

Chronic headaches

Grinding or clenching of teeth is among the causes of chronic headaches in the morning. If you usually wake up with a headache, then consider going for a nightguard. It will reduce the pressure on your jaws that bring about morning headaches.

TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder)

TMJ affects the ability of muscles used to chew as well as the joints connecting the jaw and skull. While a lot of things can cause the issue, bruxism is one of the leading causes. A nightguard will strengthen your muscles, nerves, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons that makeup TM joint – it will get rid of the clicking and popping sound whenever you open or close your mouth.

Teeth wear, cracking or pain

Most folks don’t notice their teeth are actually wearing down, but the dentist will identify. Therefore, a dental checkup is essential to know the main cause of teeth wear in order to enhance health teeth. Besides, the grinding and clenching can cause sufficient pressure for your teeth to fracture or crack. Generally, teeth are designed only to sustain eating and biting pressure, but not sustaining additional pressure due to long-term grinding or clenching. Finally, if you suffer from tooth pain and cavities aren’t the cause, then bruxism is the issue that requires a nightguard.

Constant swelling or bleeding gums

Grinding and clenching pressure can as well cause your gums to recede, making it easy for them to swell or bleed – this leads to jaw or mouth pain at times. Additionally, the recession of gums allows ‘pockets” formation between the teeth and gum line resulting in bacteria accumulation in the gaps. This can lead to gum diseases and the extreme case – teeth loss.

Get the right nightguard for sound sleep

Now that you know when to get a nightguard, where will you get it, how will you fit it? It’s highly recommended to visit your dentist for a medical checkup to determine the right kind of nightguard for you. During your dental visit, your dental impressions will be taken and sent to the lab where the right dental nightguard will be made. Remember that your dentist can make slight adjustments in order to enhance a perfectly fitting and comfortable device to sleep with.

Moreover, you can buy over-the-counter nightguards without a prescription. Some versions mostly come as boil-and-bite customization. All in all, be sure to get the best type that meets your individual needs. They range from soft, dual laminate to hard type of nightguards. Keep in mind over the counter options require replacement every few months because they wear out quickly and not as effective as made in lab or custom nightguards.

Apart from rescuing you from disturbing pains and night discomfort, the right dental nightguard will significantly save you money and time in the long run as you will avoid expensive dentistry procedures.

The bottom line

If you discover that you always wake up with headaches, sore jaws, or painful jaws, then you need a nightguard. You want to consider custom made options as they are more durable, comfortable, and practical. Most importantly, know that bruxism is treatable if you choose the right dentist, and the most appropriate solution is nightguard.