If you grind your teeth at night and want to keep your teeth healthy and strong then you should consider getting . If teeth grinding persists without the intervention of a night guard your teeth could come loose, wear down, and flatten, which could affect your ability to eat and/or talk correctly.
Grinding your teeth continually whether day or night over the course of time can cause irreparable damage and lead to other problems. The good news is Dr. Stephanie Busch-Abbate of Gentle Dentistry can help you protect your teeth from grinding.
What Are They?
Night guards are a dental appliance that prevents teeth grinding, also known as bruxism. You may not know you have it until you experience the symptoms. This is why it is important to consult your dentist sooner rather than later to save your teeth from further damage.
Generally, most night guards only cover your upper teeth, however, there are designs that can be fabricated for the lower teeth based on your needs. usually happens as a result of
- High anxiety/stress
- Misaligned bite, missing/crooked teeth
- Sleep apnea
- Side effect from certain medications
- Other medical conditions
The Benefits
Night guards may alleviate a toothache, sore gums, and jaw pain as well as prevent your teeth from becoming chipped, cracked, or even fractured. If you wake up with headaches in the morning, after wearing your night guard those headaches may be reduced. Plus, you may experience a higher quality of sleep.
Process of Getting Your Night Guard
It will take two separate appointments to get your night guard. During the first appointment, we will scan your bite as well as your lower and upper teeth. From there, the scans will be sent to our lab so we can make your custom night guard.
Upon your return, we will evaluate the fit of the appliance. Some adjustments may need to be made; most often your new oral appliance will be ready for you to take home.
How to Care for Your Night Guard
There are five simple steps to take proper care of your night guard. First, it’s important to rinse it out with warm water. Then be sure to thoroughly brush it to get any remaining food particles out. Do not use toothpaste because it can be abrasive over time.
When the guard is not in your mouth, keep it in a case. Most often, the reason guards are remade are due to a pet that chews the guard or the guard is lost. Bring the appliance with you to your routine cleaning appointments as it can be cleaned in the ultrasonic bath for a deeper clean.
Ready to Make an Appointment?
Dr. Stephanie Busch-Abbate is happy to evaluate your needs and to develop your custom night guard. To request an appointment with our dentist in Kalamazoo, MI, call Gentle Dentistry today at (269) 381-3890.