Protect Your Teeth While You Sleep With a Night Guard

Do you often wake with a headache or a sore jaw? Has anyone mentioned that you grind your teeth at night? If so, a night guard may be worth considering. It’s a custom, retainer-like dental appliance that covers the biting surfaces of your teeth, worn on either the upper or lower set, and it can spare your teeth a surprising amount of wear.

Here’s a look at how a night guard helps, and why a custom one is generally the better choice.

It protects against tooth damage

The core job of a night guard is to keep the upper and lower teeth from grinding directly against each other while you sleep. Grinding, which is more common than people realise, can gradually wear away enamel, leaving teeth more sensitive over time.

Beyond enamel wear, grinding can damage existing fillings and, if forceful enough, contribute to chipped or cracked teeth. A night guard acts as a protective buffer against all of that.

It can ease jaw tension

Many people also clench their jaw during sleep. By cushioning the bite, a night guard can help reduce the jaw tension and discomfort associated with clenching and TMD, giving overworked jaw muscles a better chance to rest overnight.

It may help with morning headaches

If you regularly wake with headaches, night-time grinding and clenching may be playing a part, since that sustained tension can radiate into headaches, earaches, neck pain and muscle fatigue. By easing the grinding and clenching, a custom night guard may help reduce those morning symptoms for some people.

Custom vs over-the-counter

Over-the-counter night guards are inexpensive, but they’re pre-moulded to fit any mouth, and long-term use of an ill-fitting guard can actually allow your bite to shift over time. A custom-fitted guard, made to the precise shape of your teeth, is more comfortable, stays put, and, with good care, can last for years.

That comfort and fit matter, because a guard only helps if it’s comfortable enough to actually wear. If you think a night guard might help you, get in touch with TMJ Therapy Centre to take the first step toward protecting your smile.