Protect Your Teeth While You Sleep
Mouth Guards Aren’t Just For Sports Activities
You may think of a mouth guard as something athletes wear to prevent injury while playing sports. However, there are some health conditions that benefit greatly from wearing a mouth guard. Yet not any mouth guard will do. These types of mouth guards are designed by a dentist, usually worn at night, and are called night guards.
4 Conditions That Benefit from Wearing a Night Guard
Bruxism
Bruxism is when a person clenches or grinds their teeth while sleeping. This causes stress on the teeth and can result in tooth fractures and wear away of the surface of the teeth wear you bite down. This condition is responsible for a sore jaw or headache when you wake up in the morning. A night guard protects the teeth from the effects of grinding and prevents the headaches and pain associated with bruxism.
TMJ
TMJ Syndrome is when the temporomandibular joint, which facilitates movement of the lower jaw, dysfunctions and causes tension in the jaw. The tension can then cause ear pain, jaw pain, facial pain, trouble chewing, locking of the jaw, and jaw clicking. The cause of TMJ can sometimes be hard to determine, but it is often caused by bruxism. A night guard in this case, will help keep pressure off of the joint and prevent clenching down on the back teeth. A night guard for TMJ prevents the underlying cause for the headaches, tension and jaw pain associated with the disorder.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea is a condition when a person’s breathing is continuously interrupted during sleep. This potentially dangerous sleep disorder may increase the risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack, and affect the amount of rest a person gets at night. A night guard designed for sleep apnea works to move the lower jaw forward keeping the airway open and sometimes adjusting the tongue’s position, for better breathing. This in turn reduces the number of pauses in breathing, increases blood oxygen, reduces risks to your cardiovascular health, and improves over all sleep.
Snoring
Snoring is caused by the relaxation of muscle in the back of the mouth leading to the throat. As air passes this area during sleep, the breathing becomes very loud and noisy. Sleep can become interrupted as a result. Not just for the person snoring, but also for anyone within earshot. A night guard made for snoring works in the same manner as for Sleep Apnea, by opening the airway.
Conclusion
Despite the reason for needing a night guard, it is important to note that it must be designed and properly fit by your dentist. Store bought night guards may not fit correctly and you could be causing other problems like shifting teeth and damage to your gums.
If you think a night guard may be something that could benefit you, schedule an appointment to talk to one of our dentists. We will give you a full evaluation and recommend the best options for treatment. Our dentist can design a night guard specifically for you that will not only improve the condition, but protect your teeth at the same time. Call Wurzbach Parkway Family Dental today, at (210) 877-2273.
