A night guard is an acrylic-based mouthguard worn at night to protect your teeth, jaw joint, and muscles from clenching or grinding. The guard is custom fitted to your mouth to cover your teeth and gums adequately. Limiting your nighttime tooth grinding can reduce wear on enamel and protect your teeth from chipping or breaking.
If you suffer from TMJ disorder, wearing a night guard can prevent you from experiencing any pain associated with your recurring headaches. At Cortez Dental, our dentist can prescribe the best treatment plan for you after thoroughly evaluating your oral health needs.
A night guard is a custom-made oral appliance that protects teeth from grinding and clenching at night while you sleep. Essentially, a night guard is worn over your upper or lower arches and prevents direct contact between your teeth to prevent you from grinding and clenching them.
When you grind or clench your teeth regularly, it can cause significant damage to your smile and lead to issues like chipped or broken teeth, cracked fillings, and even severely worn-down tooth enamel. Additionally, it can lead to jaw joint disorders like TMJ disorder that can cause severe pain and limit your ability to perform simple tasks like eating or speaking. A night guard can help protect your teeth and prevent that damage from occurring.
Custom-made night guards from your dentist are crafted to fit your mouth comfortably and protect your teeth throughout the night as you sleep. They are typically made of soft BPA-free plastic or hard acrylic designed to fit comfortably in your mouth while remaining durable enough to last long. Unlike over-the-counter night guards, custom night guards fit comfortably over your teeth and are specially made to fit your unique smile for the best results possible.
In combination with regular visits to the dentist for checkups and cleanings, a night guard can protect the teeth from excessive wear while also helping to alleviate jaw pain often associated with TMJ disorder.
In addition to reducing the harmful effects on dental health, wearing a night guard can also help to reduce the symptoms of TMD, like chronic headaches and neck pain. This is because a misaligned bite due to problems with their temporomandibular joint, otherwise known as the TMJ, can cause several uncomfortable symptoms that usually worsen over time. By wearing the night guard at night, patients can reduce the effects of a poor bite position. This can help reduce pain and stiffness in the neck and improve overall quality of life.
If you have a habit of grinding your teeth at night, a night guard can help you. For more information, contact Cortez Dental at 43 W. Montezuma Ave., Cortez, CO 81321, or call (970) 565-9569.