Why Night Guards Can Help With Snoring and Bruxism
Posted on 8/15/2024 by Grove Street Family Dentistry
Mouthguards are an amazing tool that can help you with several issues you may be having in your mouth. There are different types of mouthguards depending on what issues you have with your teeth or jaw.
What Exactly Are Night Guards?
Night guards resemble covers for teeth. They are made of plastic and can be soft or hard, depending on your needs. You put your night guards on right before you go to bed after you have brushed and flossed your teeth for the evening. You may think of night guards being similar to a retainer that orthodontists use to keep your teeth in their correct positions after you have had braces.
Night Guards for Snoring or Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea affects about 40 million Americans each year, and one of the early signs you may have sleep apnea is snoring. If left untreated, sleep apnea leads to high blood pressure, strokes, and heart disease. If you have been diagnosed with snoring due to sleep apnea, you may want to wear a night guard to help. In the case of sleep apnea, the night guard you wear will move your jaw forward, which helps you breathe better during your sleep cycle. Many patients prefer to wear night guards rather than wearing a mask to regulate oxygen flow.
Night Guards for Bruxism
Another example of the usefulness of night guards is to combat bruxism. Bruxism means that you clench your teeth together or grind them against each other while you are sleeping. Bruxism can cause painful headaches, jaw pain, cracked or broken teeth, and damaged dental work, such as to a bridge or crown. If you have not experienced migraines or broken teeth, you may be able to wear a soft night guard. If you do have damage to your teeth, you may need a hard night guard.
Not sure if you need a night guard or not? We can help. Reach out to our office today to schedule an appointment.
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Dental Blog | Tania Tran, DMD - Grove Street Family Dentistry Dr. Tania Tran has provided this educational blog as a resource for the community. We hope that this blog will cover subjects you may be interested in. Call us! Grove Street Family Dentistry - Tania Tran, DMD, 1533 Grove Street, Marysville, WA 98270-4325 | (360) 659-3200 | grovestreetdentist.com | 12/1/2024 | Key Phrases: dentist |
Mouthguards are an amazing tool that can help you with several issues you may be having in your mouth. There are different types of mouthguards depending on what issues you have with your teeth or jaw.