You may be familiar with that thing athletes put in their mouths to protect their teeth called a mouthguard. Well, a nightguard is essentially the same thing. However, instead of wearing it during a sporting activity, one wears the night guard while asleep. And there are many reasons to consider wearing a nightguard.
1. Protects Teeth from Damage
One of the most common reasons to wear a nightguard is to protect one’s teeth. Sleep bruxism, which is when one grinds or clenches their teeth while they sleep, is a common condition that can cause great damage to one’s teeth.
Sleep bruxism is most common among athletes. When one is at rest and there is no stress placed upon the body, the mind often wanders, and anxious thoughts surface. This causes one to grind their teeth.
In the worst-case scenario, this condition can lead to tooth loss. A professional night guard can help protect teeth from this damage.
2. Helps with Jaw Problems
Another reason to wear a nightguard is to protect the jaw from injury. If you have TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder), you are at a higher risk of damaging your jaw.
TMJ is when the jaw joints do not move correctly. It can cause a lot of pain and dysfunction in the jaw.
The good news is that sleeping with a night guard can offer relief from this condition. When you wear a nightguard while you sleep, it will help to keep the jaw in place. The night guard can help reduce pain and discomfort associated with this disorder, thus helping to increase the quality of life.
3. Ease of Breathing
A night guard can also help with sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder. Sleep apnea causes one to stop breathing for periods of time while they sleep, which can lead to suffocation.
When breathing is interrupted like this, it can cause one to wake up in the middle of the night, which often disrupts their sleep cycle.
A night guard can help to move the jaw forward, which can help ease some of the symptoms associated with this sleep disorder.
4. Avoid Morning Headaches
Another advantage to wearing a nightguard is that it can help to prevent tension headaches in the morning.
People who suffer from headaches often wake up in the morning with pain behind their eyes and a dull ache in their heads. This condition is caused by the grinding of teeth at night, which leads to muscle pain in the morning. It is also caused by clenching teeth throughout the day.
The night guard can help relieve muscle tension and allow the muscles to relax while you are asleep. This can stop muscle spasms and prevent future headaches.
Final Thoughts
There are many reasons to consider wearing a nightguard. If you have any of the mentioned issues or just want to wear one because you grind your teeth at night, then we recommend talking to your dentist. A professional night guard can help to prevent future dental problems and make sleeping more comfortable.
Keep your teeth protected with the help of Waban Dental Group. We are a dental office in Newton, MA, providing a full range of dental services for your entire family. Our quality of care encompasses the latest technology and practices validated by current scientific evidence. Request an appointment now!
