How a Night Guard Can Protect Your Teeth While You Sleep

Everyone deserves a good night's sleep. But what's often forgotten is that sleep is also a time when our bodies release growth hormones. These growth hormones play an important role in many bodily functions, such as tissue repair and healing.

What is a Night Guard?

A night guard, also known as a bite splint, is a plastic mouthpiece that fits over your top or bottom teeth while you sleep to protect them from grinding and clenching.

It can protect your teeth from damage caused by your sleeping position - for example, if you grind your teeth while sleeping on your back, it can cause a change in your bite alignment. This can cause significant pain over time and may make it difficult to chew and speak without discomfort.

In addition to protecting you from these issues, a night guard can also prevent jaw soreness, which can make it very difficult to fall asleep at night. Over time, experiencing this ongoing discomfort can drastically affect your overall quality of life. Our denturist in Maple Ridge, Canada, recommended wearing a night guard, as it can provide you with much-needed relief.

How do Night Guards Work?

A night guard keeps your teeth from grinding against each other at nighttime, which can wear down your pearly whites and leave them more susceptible to decay. It acts as a barrier between the teeth to prevent damage that might result from teeth grinding or clenching while a person sleeps.

Custom-made night guards created by our denturist in V2W 0A1 fit over the teeth as a mouthguard does. These are made from impressions of a patient's mouth so that they will fit comfortably and provide optimal protection. These night guards are extremely durable and made to last for a long time. They are often made from hard acrylic resin. However, in some cases, they can be constructed from a softer material, such as soft plastic. Some patients find that the softer night guards provide a better fit for their teeth, especially for patients who tend to clench their jaw while they sleep. Because the custom-made night guards fit snugly against the teeth, they can help to protect the patient's teeth against the effects of bruxism.

Do Night Guards Help With Grinding?

Yes, a night guard can protect your teeth while sleeping. Many people grind their teeth at night without even realizing it! This can not only damage your teeth but can cause jaw pain as well. A night guard is a hard plastic mouth device molded to the shape of your top teeth that protects them from grinding against other teeth, thus preventing them from breaking or cracking. In some cases, guards can also reduce or even eliminate headaches, neck pain, and facial pain associated with nighttime clenching. Our denturist in V2W 0A2 can help you determine if you could benefit from a night guard.

Do Night Guards Help With Clenching?

Yes, night guards can help protect your teeth from the effects of clenching and grinding. Clenching the teeth is a habit that occurs while you're sleeping or when you're under a lot of stress. This can cause headaches, tooth damage, jaw pain, and even cracked teeth. 

Wearing a night guard customized by our denturist in V2W 0A3 will also allow you to clench your jaw without putting too much pressure on your enamel. Many patients who wear a night guard report that they have fewer aches and pains in the morning than before they slept with the oral appliance in place. The night guard is also beneficial for your TMJ because it keeps your teeth slightly apart and prevents them from rubbing against each other.

Do Night Guards Help With TMJ?

Yes, night guards are an excellent way to help treat the temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and bruxism. The guard will act as a barrier between your upper and lower teeth to prevent you from grinding your teeth at night. TMD is a serious condition that can affect every aspect of your life, so it's important to find relief as soon as possible. If you experience severe jaw pain or other symptoms such as headaches or earaches, you should visit our denturist in V2W 0A4 as soon as possible. It's much less expensive to treat this condition in its early stages before it becomes serious.

It's also a good idea to consider getting a night guard from our denturist in V2W 0A5 if you have recently had restorative work such as a filling, crown, or bridge placed. These restorations are designed to last for years, but they can be destroyed easily if you grind your teeth during sleep. A night guard will protect them and help to prevent any further damage from happening.

To learn more about our dental services, contact Summit Denture Clinic at 130 - 2881 Garden Street, Abbotsford, BC V2T 4X1, or call (604) 776-2881. We also serve areas including Maple Ridge: V2W 0A1, V2W 0A2, V2W 0A3, V2W 0A4, V2W 0A5.