You may be questioning yourself why it’s worth investing in a night guard. Well, it’s simple: dental health is important! A night guard can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease by keeping your teeth from grinding together at night. It can also help with TMJ syndrome, which causes pain in your jaw joints when you chew or open your mouth wide. At Eagle Family Dentistry, our dentists can make custom-made nightguards to help protect your teeth from grinding and clenching while you sleep. If you’re still undecided about getting a night guard, here are some reasons why it may be worth considering:
Alleviate Pain and Headaches
A night guard can be a great way to reduce jaw pain or headaches if you suffer from them. A night guard is also useful if you grind your teeth at night, which can lead to serious problems and dental emergencies, including tooth damage, facial fractures, and jaw disorders.
Improve Your Sleep
A night guard can help you get a good night’s sleep by preventing teeth grinding and clenching, which is common in people who suffer from sleep apnea. Grinding your teeth while sleeping can also damage your tooth restorations, such as cosmetic veneers or dental crowns, which can be a waste of money.
Protect Your Teeth
A night guard can save your teeth from damage. When you sleep, you naturally clench and grind your teeth. It can cause harm to your teeth, which is why it’s important to wear a night guard while you sleep. Harm to the structure of your teeth can lead to serious dental issues like infection, decay, or gum disease as your tooth weakens. Fortunately, you can visit a dentist for cosmetic dental procedures to strengthen and restore the weak tooth.
Prevent Enamel Erosion
Enamel erosion occurs when acid attacks the outer layer of enamel and dissolves it away over time. When this happens on a small scale, we may not notice any symptoms until there’s significant damage done; however, if left untreated for too long, it could lead to serious health problems like infections within the mouth or even tooth loss! So, it forces you to choose expensive and complicated dental treatments like root canals or tooth implants that are costly and time-consuming. The night guard prevents grinding by absorbing pressure and distributing it evenly across your teeth. It reduces stress on your jawbone, reduces wear on enamel, and helps avoid enamel erosion.
Tips for Proper Care and Maintenance
Keep up with regular checkups with your cosmetic dentist. Your oral health is important in general, but especially so when wearing a night guard. It’s vital that you keep up with regular checkups and oral cleaning to detect any potential problems for timely treatment, helping to reduce the chance of needing more extensive procedures down the line.
If you have any inquiries regarding oral health or night guards, feel free to reach out to us and talk to our dentists.
