Have you heard of mouth guard for gnashing of teeth?
Teeth grinding can occur in children and adults. Your dentist can diagnose the disorder by looking into its causes. People with bruxism are under stress, or have misaligned teeth or poor posture. They also complain of inability to relax, and certain sleeping disorders. Caffeine-rich diet and alcohol also trigger bruxism.
Bruxism is not a serious disorder but the frequent teeth grinding in sleep will surely take its toll on your teeth. Mouth guard for gnashing of teeth is recommended to reduce the pain and prevent further harm to your teeth. They are also called night guards.
But you can’t simply get a comfortable mouth guard for your teeth grinding problem. A custom-fitted oral splint or mouth protection will be molded to your teeth. However, this is a bit expensive. Based from the teeth impression made by your dentists, a professional will make the mouth guard for gnashing of teeth. Upon the instruction of your dentist and using a special material, this type of mouth guard will be most comfortable, and will exactly fit your teeth. It will protect your teeth from the force when you unconsciously grind teeth at night.
There are also mouth guards that are readily available at the drugstores. Because they are not custom-made, it will be best to take these hints on buying a mouth guard for grinding teeth. After all, you are not allowed to try these items before buying them.
Comfort
Commercially manufactured mouth guards are categorized under one-size-fits all. The better choice for comfortable fit is the boil and bite night mouth guards. They are made from thermoplastic materials which you put in hot water to soften it. When soft, you can place it in your mouth and it will be shaped around the teeth by simply pressing it with your finger and tongue. The best but expensive mouth guard is the custom-fit type.
Durability
Investing on quality products is always wise. There are mouth guards for grinding teeth that are expensive while others are cheap. Select a mouth guard that is made of strong but soft plastic. Some mouth guards are rubber-made.
Construction
Mouth guards can either be single wall or double wall. Double walled mouth guards are always better and more expensive than single walled. The boil and bite types are constructed as single walled and fit loosely than the other type. Double walled mouth guard for grinding teeth is the one recommended best for night protection. It fits smugly on the teeth although cheaper than the custom-made.
Whatever type of mouth guard for grinding teeth you use, it is important to observe dental hygiene to protect your general health:
- Always rinse your mouth guard with cold water or mouth wash before and after use.
- Clean it with a toothbrush and toothpaste similar to cleaning a denture.
- Store the mouth guard in a firm and perforated container to allow circulation and avoid damage.
- To prevent from disfiguring your mouth guard, protect it from heat or hot surfaces including direct exposure to the sunlight.
- Check for wear and tear. If there are holes or if the fit becomes loose, maybe it’s time to replace it.
- Let your dentist examine your custom-fit mouth guard whenever you go for your dental visit.
A mouth guard is not a treatment for bruxism. It is only an oral appliance that will lessen the discomfort and harm done to your teeth when you grind teeth at night.
Mouth guard for gnashing of teeth is not a treatment for bruxism. It is only an oral appliance that will lessen the discomfort and harm done to your teeth when you grind teeth at night.