A night guard is a type of mouthguard that a dentist will create on a custom basis for their patients. You wear this oral appliance over your teeth as you sleep as a form of preventative dental care. But you might wonder how beneficial this device can be.
Your dentist can construct this appliance to address your unique oral health needs so that you can receive the protection you require. You can better trust the potential of this device when you know about the benefits it can bring. Read on to find three of the many advantages you can notice in your smile if you wear a night guard from your dentist.
Treat Mild Cases of Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which soft tissue at the back of the throat collapses as you relax in sleep. Then the tissue creates a brief blockage in the airway that stops you from breathing. While not acutely life-threatening, you can face many medical risks if you do not seek treatment for this condition.
A doctor can treat sleep apnea, but a dentist can also help with mild cases using a specialized night guard. The dentist can make this oral appliance so that it keeps your jaw in a position as you sleep that prevents tissue collapse that might block the airway.
Then you can reduce these health dangers associated with sleep apnea. And the comfortable, secure-fitting guard will not disrupt your ability to sleep with ease as you treat the problem.
Relieve Chronic Jaw Pain
Are you waking up with soreness in your jaw? You might clench your teeth during sleep, which exerts pressure that will extend to your jaw. The resulting strain on the muscles there will lead to lasting pain.
You might even start to notice difficulty completing oral functions due to stiffness and soreness in your jaw. This condition is known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). You will need intervention from your dentist to relieve this discomfort in the jaw. It will not go away on its own.
A night guard can cushion the teeth against excess pressure during the night. Then you can awaken without pain in your jaw. And you can perform oral functions without issue once again.
Stop Dental Damage from Bruxism
Grinding or clenching your teeth, a habit known as bruxism, can occur for a number of reasons, including stress. But this extra pressure and grating on your teeth could wear down your teeth over time. And if you grind your teeth as you sleep, you are not aware enough of the behavior to stop it from happening.
A dentist can provide you with a night guard to wear that will protect your teeth from this harmful habit. The guard will stop the grinding from eroding the enamel, the outer layer of the tooth. And it can also prevent damage to existing dental work, like fillings. Consult with a dentist to learn more about this useful dental device today.