Posted on June 22, 2022.

Feeling your jaw stiffen and ache every morning? You may be experiencing a common symptom of bruxism, or "teeth grinding," as it's better known. Surprisingly, people are often unaware that they grind their teeth until discomfort in their jaw or dull headaches emerges! Fortunately, there is an easy solution: a nightguard can protect your mouth and head. So get informed about this nightly habit; read on to learn why wearing a nightguard should become part of your regular bedtime routine.

What is the Cause of Teeth Grinding?

Grinding your teeth is surprisingly common, but its causes are often difficult to pinpoint. While stress and anxiety certainly can contribute, it's more likely that an underlying problem, such as an abnormal bite or crooked or missing teeth, is the culprit, along with potentially deeper issues like sleep apnea. It gets even weirder when you're oblivious to your nighttime behavior due to being asleep unless someone close by hears the sound! So make sure those pearly whites stay intact by looking into what really could be causing them to grind night after night.

What Is A Nightguard?

Teeth health can be a tricky business, made more problematic because everyone's dental pattern is different. Fortunately, one thing works for everybody: the trusty nightguard! Not to be confused with its many aliases (occlusal guard, bite splint, etc.), these nifty devices are designed to mold individually and provide maximum protection from grinding when catching those much-needed Zs. So don't sacrifice your teeth—get yourself a nightguard!

Types of Nightguards

Those looking for relief from tooth grinding have three helpful options for those with minor to moderate issues, a soft nightguard or an ultrathin guard, which provide comfort and protection. Individuals dealing with moderate to heavy grinding can experience better protection and comfort when wearing the dual laminate hybrid model, which has a hard exterior but is supple inside against teeth.

5 Reasons To Wear A Nightguard

If you can keep your teeth from grinding, you are well on your way to avoiding dental problems. To take it a step further, discover the excellent benefits of wearing a nightguard! Here's an easy guide: check out the top five reasons why they're crucial for maintaining healthy and happy smiles.

1. Prevent Teeth Damage

Teeth grinding has the potential to lead to serious dental problems, such as enamel loss and tooth decay. Without sufficient protection from your enamel, beverages and foods become more excruciatingly painful, potentially resulting in an infection if left unchecked. Even if your teeth are strong, you can still damage them by clenching or grinding them too hard. This is because fillings can weaken over time from normal wear and tear. Overall, it's important to recognize when you're struggling with managing stress levels so that action may be taken before further harm is done!

2. Prevent Chronic Headaches

For some, persistent headaches and neck pain are potential signs of bruxism. This condition is caused by the muscles in your face and jaw being overworked from daily activities such as talking, eating, and even playing sports or other hobbies! Even though this can be painful if you don't treat it, it doesn't always mean you have a problem. Instead, these sore spots could benefit from rest and the right help, like getting fitted for a nightguard.

Take the time to ensure that any headaches you are experiencing are caused by teeth grinding and clenching. If your tooth surfaces look flat instead of pointed, this could indicate that you're nocturnally engaging in bruxism. Also, gum recession or loosening can be signs of clenching. If this is the case, a custom-made nightguard may help relieve symptoms by taking pressure off the muscles in the neck and shoulders while you sleep. These precautions will help to ensure that any aches do not worsen into more serious long-term problems!

3. Reduces Snoring

Did you know that simply wearing a nightguard while sleeping can help reduce your snoring? It may seem more annoying to the people around us, but it's also essential for our breathing since sleeping with tight jaws makes it hard to get air into our lungs. By preventing contact between upper and lower jaw structures with a convenient guard, adequate airflow helps promote deeper sleep without obstruction sound-wise—now there's a sweet dream!

4. Reduces the Risk of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) acts as a bridge between your jaw and skull, allowing you to chew delicious meals full of flavor. Unfortunately, this connection is fragile; clenching or grinding teeth while asleep can lead to misalignment in the TMJ, which causes discomforting symptoms such as headaches, pain around and inside the ear, and a limited ability to chew. Furthermore, if your jaw suddenly locks open or closed, it may cause displacement of an articular disc, necessitating emergency room treatment! To avoid putting strain on these muscles during sleep, wearing a nightguard helps protect against developing any problems with the TMJ condition.

5. Improves Sleep Quality

Do you have trouble sleeping? Bruxism, TMD, muscle fatigue, and other things can make us toss and turn in bed instead of falling asleep quickly. But with a night guard, there is hope! Lightweight for maximum comfort and to place your jaw in the best position possible so it can rest easy at night, this clever sleep mouthguard puts an end to those sleepless nights by relaxing the muscles around your face. Sweet dreams await!

Why Get A Nightguard From Dental Guard Labs?

Get the same level of dental care as your dentist right in your own home! With Dental Guard Labs, you can trust that each personalized night guard is crafted by a veteran lab technician with over two decades of experience in dentistry. We're sure you'll love our products – we offer a full money-back guarantee!