Nightguards are used to protect the teeth from excessive wear due to an oral condition called bruxism. The teeth could undergo severe wear due to clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth. The night guard prevents contact between teeth from either jaw, thereby eliminating teeth wear and applying stress on the muscles around the TMJ.
Sleep is a crucial part of our everyday routine as it helps our body relax and rejuvenate for the following day. But, sleep disorders could affect the quality of your sleep, and the worst part is most of us wouldn’t even know about them as they go unnoticed. One such sleep disorder is bruxism, which is the subconscious grinding of teeth while asleep. If left untreated, it can have certain severe symptoms such as excessive wear of the teeth, TMD, migraine, etc.
A night guard in Tigard, OR or a bruxism guard is an oral appliance used to keep the teeth from undergoing severe wear due to bruxism. It looks pretty much like an athletic mouthguard used by sportspersons but functions slightly different. The night guard also reduces the stress applied to the tissues around the jaw and TMJ, thereby reducing the severity of TMD.
Night guards can be picked up from a local pharmacy, which would be a one-size-fits-all or a boil-and-bite type. They do the job of protecting the teeth alright but have other drawbacks. They wouldn’t offer the right fit, making them quite uncomfortable to use. With regular use, they could cause an inflammation of the gums and even bring about a change in the alignment of the teeth. Though customized night guards cost more, they would be worth the investment as they offer seamless comfort and protection.
