Should You Use A Night Guard? Decision Guide

29 Jan Should You Use A Night Guard? Decision Guide

Grinding your teeth may not seem like that big of a deal, but if it is left untreated, it can cause some serious problems later on. Even if you can control this nasty habit during the day time, you are out of control of how much clenching or grinding will occur in your sleep. 

Thankfully, there is a solution for taking back control of what your mouth does during the night time and that solution is using a night guard. Here is a decision guide for helping you figure out: “Should You Use A Night Guard?”   

The main reason you should use a night guard when you sleep is to help reduce the pain you experience regularly. This guard keeps your upper and lower quadrants of teeth from touching, which means that the headaches and soreness go away. It also ensures that your teeth won’t be damaged, chipped or have other sensitivity problems. 

If you are on the fence about using one for the first time, or maybe you just have some questions, read on to find out why you should use a night guard. 

What Are Some Additional Benefits Of Using A Night Guard? 

 

There are many benefits to using a night guard to protect your teeth. Some of the main ones are:

You Sleep Better Using A Night Guard 

So many people are constantly dealing with sleepless nights tossing and turning, massaging their faces or even taking sleeping pills, only to find themselves with the same amount of discomfort they were in, to begin with. 

When wearing a night guard in the evening, you will start to notice that you are much more comfortable during your sleep. Ultimately, this comfort will lead to the tension in your jaw releasing and will end up reducing the symptoms you have been dealing with for so long. This device will give you sleep that is uninterrupted, and help you get rid of your jaw problems once and for all.  

You Save Money Using A Night Guard 

One of the biggest benefits of using a night guard is that it saves you money. Unresolved issues that have to do with clenching or grinding teeth end up needing to be looked at by professionals, and this can most certainly add up over long periods. 

Nobody wants to spend unnecessary money on their teeth, so start by investing in a night guard instead! 

You Have Less Tension And Pain Using A Night Guard 

If you have a long workday ahead of you, the last thing you want to be dealing with is the distraction of the pain in your teeth. 

With a night guard, it can be custom fitted to meet your exact needs so that the stress on your jaw joints and muscles can finally get a well-deserved break. 

You will be able to go throughout your workday pain-free if you use one of these regularly. 

What Happens If You Don’t Use A Night Guard? 

 

There are clearly some great benefits to using a night guard, but what happens if you don’t use one with grinding or clenching problems? 

You Can Get Cracked Teeth Without A Night Guard 

Unfortunately, not using a night guard can most certainly result in some of your teeth getting cracked. 

One of the hardest substances in the human body is enamel. Enamel is even tougher than your bones. Regardless of how durable enamel is, however, it is not strong enough to handle anything more than the normal activity of chewing food. 

If you have teeth that already have fillings or cavities, they are more susceptible to cracking due to the enamel already being compromised. 

You Can Have Attrition Without A Night Guard 

Another thing that can happen as a repercussion to not using a night guard, is that attrition can occur. 

Attrition is when you grind or clench your teeth so much that the enamel on your teeth is slowly and gradually worn down until your teeth become shortened. If you have been clenching or grinding your teeth for a long time, this is much more common. 

If you have a severe case of attrition, you may need extensive dental work to repair your teeth. Taking preventive steps or catching it early can save you a lot of time, money and pain in the future. 

Your Gums Could Recess Without A Night Guard 

If there are strong forces causing movements or flexing in your teeth, it can affect how the gums are attached to the teeth.

If too much of the force occurs, the gums will recede or back away from their original placements. If this happens, the roots of your teeth become exposed, leaving you with extremely sensitive teeth or even cavities. 

A night guard will help prevent your gums from shifting, and keep everything exactly where it’s supposed to be. 

What Kind Of Night Guard Should I Use? 

 

Now that you know a little bit more about night guards and are considering the next steps, what kind should you use? 

The great thing about night guards is that they don’t have to be worn 24/7 and they are customized for each patient to fit their individual needs. 

Depending on what kind of dental issues you are dealing with, you might choose one of these three variations: 

Soft Night Guards 

A soft night guard won’t damage your teeth even with the most severe clenching and grinding because it is made with very soft plastic. These soft guards are molded to fit the patient’s mouth exactly even though they are much more flexible than other night guards. 

Hard Night Guards 

If you have a more severe grinding problem, you probably want to choose a night guard that is a harder acrylic type. Even though the plastic is strong, they’re still comfortable to keep in your mouth for long periods. 

Dual Laminated Night Guards 

Dual Laminated guards combine both of these guard types into one special guard that is favored by a lot of patients. The inside of the guard is made of soft plastic while the outside is made of hard acrylic. 

With this combination, you get both the protection on the outside of your guard, and it feels soft on your teeth at the same time. 

 

If you know that you are struggling with grinding or clenching your teeth at night, it’s time for you to invest in a night guard. We want to help you take the next step, so contact us today!