A night guard refers to a custom-made appliance that you wear over your teeth as you sleep. The material can be hard or soft, depending on your specific oral health needs.
Dentists can recommend this mouthguard-like device for many reasons. And they will design your night guard to suit your goals and requirements. You can count on a comfortable and secure fit that will not disrupt your sleep or slip out of place.
You can feel more confident in this dental treatment when you know the advantages it can offer for your teeth, jaw, and more. Read on to learn three oral health benefits you can experience when you wear a night guard.
Prevent Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea refers to a disorder in which the soft tissue at the back of the throat collapses during sleep and temporarily blocks the airway, interrupting your ability to breathe. While these breathing cessations do not create acute danger, you could face many medical risks with untreated sleep apnea.
A doctor can treat sleep apnea, but your dentist can help you manage mild cases of this disorder too with a night guard. The custom device will help to align your jaw as you sleep in a way that reduces the likelihood of sleep apnea symptoms.
Then you can improve your sleep quality and cognitive function. And you can put less stress on your body when you stop these breathing cessation periods during sleep. Learn if this sleep apnea treatment can help your unique case by scheduling a dentist appointment.
Treat Bruxism
About 20% of people have a habit of grinding or clenching their teeth, also known as bruxism. This can occur for a number of reasons, including high stress levels, and often manifests during sleep without the person’s awareness.
The constant grating of the top teeth against the bottom ones generates pressure that can hurt your smile in many ways. You can wear down your dental structure, harm existing dental work, and put a strain on your jaw. This can lead to temporomandibular joint disorders that may leave you with chronic jaw pain and dysfunction.
These symptoms will worsen over time, so you will want to seek intervention and treatment for this behavior as soon as you can. A night guard will allow you to cut back on this habit and prevent damage to your smile.
Preserve Your Smile
Complications like sleep apnea and teeth grinding can hurt your teeth, jaw, and the rest of your mouth. But a night guard can prevent dental damage from these issues and more. You can preserve the look and feel of your smile in other ways if you wear a night guard as you sleep.
For instance, bruxism might make your teeth start to shift out of their straight position. Prevent crooked teeth and bite problems that can make your oral health worse by keeping teeth in line and stopping grinding from impacting your teeth using a night guard. This will ensure you still feel confident about your smile’s appearance while also preserving your oral health.