There are many different dental devices available to treat various teeth, jaw, and sleep issues. Dental mouth guards, also known as night guards, mouth guards, bite plates, or splints, are ready-made or custom-fit appliances that you wear while sleeping. They are recommended for issues like teeth grinding, clenching, snoring, sleep apnea issues, and oral muscle spasms. Your dentist will recommend the right appliance for you to improve both your oral health and quality of life.

Some types of mouthguards include:

  1. Stock mouth protectors (bought at your local drugstore)
  2. Boil-and-bite protectors (bought at your local drugstore)
  3. Custom fit mouth guards (specifically designed for your mouth and dental issue by our dental team)

High quality custom-fit mouth guards are made out of a type of acrylic material. Our dentists will recommend the right one for you based on your individual concerns and created specifically to fit your individual mouth.

Reasons for a Dental Mouth Guard:

Controlled Sleep Bruxism

The biggest issue that mouth guards target is sleep bruxism. Sleep bruxism is simply grinding and clenching while you are sleeping. Mouth guards even out the pressure across your jaw and create a physical barrier between your upper and lower teeth to protect them from wearing out further. They also reduce any grinding noises you make at night.

No Tooth Damage

More than controlling sleep bruxism, the bigger protection that mouth guards provide are to your teeth and gums. They do not stop the actual grinding and clenching, but they prevent your teeth from wearing down with time. Bruxism can cause broken teeth, loss of tooth enamel, teeth sensitivity, and in severe cases, loss of teeth. Mouth guards create a barrier between your upper and lower teeth to prevent this dental damage.

Reduced Ache and Pain

Sleep bruxism results in waking up with pain around the cheeks and jaw. When you clench your jaw, the mouth guard helps to lighten the tension and give cushion to the muscles in the jaw. This cushioning helps to prevent face and jaw pain.

Headache is another issue associated with teeth grinding and clenching. By relaxing the tension in muscles, mouth guards also reduce headache, temple, and forehead pain.

Less Snoring

Teeth clenching and grinding can affect your muscles and lead to breathing problems and snoring at night. Snoring happens due to vibrations of soft tissue in your upper airway. A dental guard works by pulling your lower jaw forward to keep your airway open.

Better Sleep Quality

The issues associated with bruxism can affect your sleeping patterns. You won’t be able to get sound sleep due to excessive pain in your mouth and head muscles. Also, loud snoring may break your sleep from time to time. Mouth guards provide maximum comfort while minimising the issues and discomfort caused due to those issues. It allows for a more restful and less interrupted sleep.

Safeguard Against Issues

Sometimes, your bruxism can be associated with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD). The symptoms for TMJD also include a sore or tender jaw, muscle fatigue, neck pain, earaches and spasms, among others. Wearing mouth guards can help to manage these issues as well. Dentists recommend mouth guards to prevent serious injuries such as jaw fracture, cerebral hemorrhage, concussion and neck injuries by helping to avoid situations where the lower jaw jams into the upper jaw.

Highly Customisable

No matter what your oral conditions are, a dental guard is effective to treat and decrease symptoms. A custom-made mouth guard is highly recommended since it is made uniquely for your teeth and gums. Your dentist will examine your oral condition closely and suggest the right kind of mouth guard specifically for you.

Long-Term Money Savings

The initial investment for a custom dental guard will pay off quickly. Without protection to your teeth, they can chip and break and be an even greater expense. Tooth pain without a mouth guard can end up being very costly to fix. Likewise, muscle and joint issues will cause health problems that also require time and money to treat in other ways. A mouth guard is a cost effective alternative for better dental and medical health in the long run.

The right mouth guard

  • Stays firmly in place during your sleep,
  • Provides a high degree of comfort and fit,
  • Is durable and easy to clean, and
  • Is resilient, tear-resistant, odourless and tasteless.

Talk to your dentist to determine the best type of mouth guard available to treat your dental and medical issues. This simple appliance can greatly improve your lifestyle!

Posted in Dental News