Night Guards
Patients that snore at night, cope with exhaustion during the day, or have a habit of grinding their teeth may benefit from a night mouthguard. Custom-made night mouthguards are one potential solution to sleep problems. A night guard that keeps the air passageway open can treat mild cases of sleep apnea. And mild to moderate cases of bruxism – the act of grinding one’s teeth – can be mitigated by a bruxism mouthguard. At Amherst Village Dental, our team wants our patients to have a nice smile during the day and positive overall health.
Apnea/Snoring And The Mouthguard
Snoring is an unpleasant situation at night for the people hearing it as well as for the person who does it involuntarily. The condition that causes snoring and fatigue during the day is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is triggered by the airway in the throat being tight as the muscles relax. Since the brain will not get enough oxygen to function, it will switch to a waking state for a brief moment and prevent the patient from achieving a deep sleep. Even patients without sleep apnea can benefit from a mouthpiece to help with snoring. These are different from bruxism mouthguards; the role of mouthguards that help to treat sleep apnea or general snoring is to move both the lower jaw forward to open the airway and allow enough oxygen to pass through. A mouthpiece of this sort will effectively solve the problem in mild cases of this condition.
Bruxism Mouthguard
People who grind their teeth frequently are diagnosed with bruxism. The reason why someone can grit or grind their teeth depends on the person, but the primary factor is stress. Grinding teeth may be due to muscle memory or a misaligned bite. Many patients have been helped to prevent damage to their teeth via a custom mouthguard. A mouthguard designed to protect our patients’ teeth from the damage caused by grinding and clenching teeth is very similar to a sports mouthguard. It is placed on the upper teeth to prevent them from coming into contact with the lower teeth. This is a relatively good treatment approach for those with a moderate case of bruxism. We suggest patients use a custom mouthguard so that the mouthpiece can rest comfortably without moving around. Over-the-counter mouthguards are not specifically designed for our patients’ collection of teeth and can be uncomfortable or even pop out of place during sleep.
Benefits Of Night Mouthguards
The right night mouthguard can reduce a patient’s pain and tension. Patients will also have fewer headaches due to decreased exhaustion because of sleep apnea or soreness from grinding teeth. And the right night mouthguard can improve the patient’s sleeping patterns.
Discuss A New Oral Appliance With Us
If the conditions mentioned are familiar to symptoms you are experiencing currently, our team can help you improve your quality of life and protect your teeth. At Amherst Village Dental, our team wants you to have safe teeth and good oral health. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, you can call our office at 603-769-8985.