On occasion, your dentist will provide you or recommend a mouth guard for you to wear, nightly. Night guards can be needed for a number of reasons, but they are used to protect your teeth through the night. Night guards typically do not have to be worn during the day, unless you’re an athlete, because we are more conscious of how we are holding our mouths. Here are a few reasons your doctor may recommend you wear a night guard.
- Sleep Apnea
- Night guards for sleep apnea are imperative because it adjusts your jaw for people to be able to sleep through the night with proper air flow. Sleep apnea causes lack of air flow and snoring. When you begin to wear a night guard, your mouth is propped open more than it usually is, and air begins to flow more efficiently.
- Teeth Grinding
- When people are asleep, they tend to clench their teeth and grind them. If this is the case, you may wake up in the morning with a sore jaw. Teeth clenching and grinding through the night is a major issue for your oral and dental health. With the grinding, you begin to wear your teeth down and sensitivity begins to set in.
- TMJ Disorder
- TMJ disorder is when you have jaw pain at the location where your jawbone and skull meet. Your TMJ is what allows mobility and function to opening and closing your mouth. This joint is imperative for speaking and eating, so when it is causing pain and discomfort, it becomes a major issue. Night guards for a TMJ treatment allows for the lack of jaw clenching, with eliminates discomfort in the joint. TMJ disorder may also be caused by teeth grinding, which is halted by a night guard, as well.
If you are suffering from any of the issues listed above, you may benefit from a night guard. Night guards come in many different shapes, sizes, and materials so it is wise to consult your dentist about your options. Your dentist and their team will be able to diagnose your main issue and recommend a night guard that will be beneficial to your oral health.
