What can a dental mouth guard do for you? Custom mouth guards from a dentist can achieve amazing things. These sleek oral devices can combat health issues like teeth grinding, temporomandibular joint disorder, and sleep apnea. Not all mouth guards are created equal. Let’s explore the different types of mouthguards and how they apply to each dental condition.
Exploring Dental Mouth Guards
Dental mouth guards are often called night guards because they typically wear when patients sleep. These clever oral devices are generally made from medical-grade materials and custom-fitted to a patient’s mouth. As a result, they tend to be more durable and have a longer lifespan than the bulky, boil-and-bite products that athletes wear to safeguard their teeth on the sports field. They’re also noticeably thinner and more comfortable to wear.
The mouthguards listed below are custom fitted and prepared by a dentist.
Experienced dentists understand the power of mouth guards. They know that a dental night guard can be used to treat a variety of health concerns. Here are a few dental symptoms and how a mouthguard can help.
Teeth Grinding Mouth Guard
Bruxism, or teething grinding, can do a lot of harm to your smile. Sadly, many people grind and clench while sleeping. They often don’t realize that they’re doing it until the damage is done. Fortunately, wearing a bite guard or sleep guard for teeth helps. While it may not completely stop the behavior, it does provide a barrier. Wearing a teeth-grinding mouth guard protects the teeth from further damage.
TMJ Mouth Guard
Teeth grinding can harm more than your teeth. The temporomandibular joints connect the jaw to the skull. These hardworking joints are pressed into service every time you talk, sing, or chew, and bruxing takes a severe toll on them. Whether you grind your teeth or not, if you find yourself dealing with headaches, jaw pain, clicking in your jaw, or difficulty opening or closing, you may be dealing with a TMJ disorder. If you are experiencing TMJ symptoms, your doctor or dentist may suggest an occlusal night guard.
Sleep Apnea Mouth Guard
Sleep apnea is a medical condition where your sleep is fractured because you repeatedly stop breathing for brief periods. If left untreated, it can lead to cardiovascular disease, so choosing an effective treatment is essential. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy is traditionally the go-to treatment, but CPAP machines are awkward, and the required facemasks are bulky and uncomfortable. Opting for oral appliance therapy is a better choice for many patients.
These special night guards offer an alternative to people with mild or moderate sleep apnea. One option is the mandibular advancement device, which shifts the jaw forward, enlarging the upper airway. Another choice is the tongue-retaining device. As the name suggests, it holds the tongue so that it cannot block the airway during the night. If you’re interested in trying a sleep apnea night guard, talk to your healthcare providers to discover if either of these devices would be appropriate for you.
Which Mouth Guard is Right For You?
Are you searching for a dentist in the Orlando, Florida, area who can help you achieve your best smile? At Wekiva Dental, healthy smiles are our passion. We work diligently to deliver a full menu of general and cosmetic dentistry services for the entire family with the care, comfort, and commitment to quality that our customers deserve. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.