Protect your teeth from damage due to grinding with a custom night guard from South Philadelphia Orthodontic Associates.
Many people grind their teeth at night, a condition called “bruxism.” Over time, grinding can wear down enamel and cause tooth and jaw pain. Night guards protect the teeth from damage.
How Do Night Guards Work?
Night guards are dental appliances you wear inside your mouth while sleeping. They fit over the teeth, keeping them aligned while preventing the enamel tooth surfaces from scraping against each other if you grind your teeth.
Night guards are durable and resilient. As long as you keep them clean and brush them regularly, there should not be a reason to replace your mouth guard. Your dentist will provide a cleaning solution so you can wash your guard once a week.
What Conditions Do Night Guards Treat?
You might be a candidate for night guards if you have any of the following conditions.
Bruxism
Dental night guards prevent the upper and lower rows of teeth from contacting each other if you grind at night. The guards are softer than the natural tooth enamel, so they cushion the teeth. Night guards also help the teeth stay in a healthy position during the night.
TMJ Dysfunction
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull. Tooth grinding and clenching of the jaws can strain the TMJ and cause it not to work properly. Symptoms of TMJ dysfunction include:
- Headaches
- Jaw Pain
- Difficulty opening the jaw
Dental night guards help relieve TMJ pain and restore joint mobility.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea causes people to stop breathing for short periods during sleep. It can cause fatigue and cardiovascular problems. Some forms of sleep apnea occur because the jaw is not in a healthy position when the person with sleep apnea lies down. Dental night guards treat sleep apnea by keeping the jaws aligned.
Sleep Comfortably With a Custom Night Guard
Are you worried that a night guard will hurt your gums or make it difficult to sleep at night? At South Philadelphia Orthodontic Associates, we custom fit each night guard to the patient’s teeth and mouth to minimize any discomfort from the guard.
Wearing a night guard might take some getting used to, but most patients are comfortable with their guards and experience relief from their symptoms.
When you get dental night guards from South Philadelphia Orthodontic Associates, the dentist will take an impression of your teeth and use these to create a night guard that fits over your teeth.
Make an Appointment Today at South Philadelphia Orthodontic Associates
Are teeth clenching and grinding causing you to lose sleep and suffer pain? Give yourself a good night’s sleep and maintain dental health with a custom night guard.
South Philadelphia Orthodontic Associates uses the latest materials to create durable, comfortable night guards. To learn more about whether a custom mouth guard is right for you, call (215) 271-8870 to schedule an appointment today.
