Mouthguard Grinding your teeth during the day can be a tough habit to break, since often it is done unconsciously. Grinding your teeth during the night can be an impossible habit to break, since you are not even conscious. That is why Riverstone Dental Group offers night mouthguards to our patients. Why We Recommend a Mouthguard During the NightA night mouthguard is one meant to be worn while you sleep to mitigate the negative effects of grinding and clenching your teeth. This is not the same thing as a retainer. While many retainers are also worn only at night, the purpose of those is generally to fix an oral health problem. Night mouthguards instead prevent oral health issues. We recommend these night mouthguards for anyone suffering from these difficulties. This means you may not need or benefit from one if you do not grind your teeth, or only grind your teeth during the day. Like with most preventive dentistry measures, getting a night mouthguard is an investment in the future of your dental health. By taking the time to get a quality night mouthguard, you reduce the chance that you will need more invasive treatments at a later date. This might be anything from a simple filling all the way up to inpatient jaw surgery. What Mouthguards Can You Sleep In?Primarily, you will find that there are two main types of mouthguards available for nighttime use. The most common, and affordable, can usually be purchased online or at any retail store. It is tempting to get one of these because they are both cheap and affordable, and they may seem like a quick and easy solution. Unfortunately, this is because they are mass-produced, so there is a high degree of likelihood that they will be uncomfortable and bulky in your mouth, hindering the quality of your sleep. If you grind your teeth a lot, these will likely do nothing at all to help you. Instead of a generic mouthguard, we recommend a mouthguard designed for you specifically. We do this by making a mold of your mouth so that it fits you like a glove. One of these custom-made mouthguards can last for years if taken care of properly and can protect against excessive teeth grinding and jaw clenching. Caring for Your MouthguardThe better care your night mouthguard gets, the longer it will last and the fewer times you will have to replace it. Your mouthguard should be washed each and every morning to keep it sanitary and fresh. You need no special supplies for this, just your toothbrush and toothpaste, or other detergent such as dish soap. Rinse with warm, but not hot, water and then store in a ventilated case to discourage bacterial growth. Do You Need a Night Mouthguard?If you grind your teeth while you sleep, then you may benefit from a high-quality night mouthguard from Riverstone Dental Group. To order yours today and find out how else we can help you prevent nighttime teeth grinding, call (925) 414-9250. |
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