A night guard creates a cushion for the teeth, preventing the top and bottom teeth from grinding against each other. As a barrier between the teeth, the night guard helps prevent future damage to your teeth. Another way a night guard helps ease the pain is by reducing the amount that your jaw can clench. By preventing complete flexing of the jaw, a night guard helps keep your jaw more relaxed at night. You’ll wake up with less pain in your jaw and head.

Why You Might Need a Night Guard

You might grind your teeth without realizing it. Be aware of the most frequently reported symptoms of bruxism. Common signs that you might have bruxism include:

• A partner hearing you grind your teeth at night
• Waking up unrefreshed from a full night of sleep or frequently waking at night
• Jaw pain in the morning
• Referred pain that feels like an earache without problems in your ear
• Morning headaches upon waking
• Tooth pain or extra sensitivity
• Worn tooth enamel
• Cracks or wear on the surfaces of your molars

The above signs may be the only indications you have that you grind your teeth at night. If you suspect that you do, you should see a dentist to get a protective night guard for your mouth.

Benefits of a Night Guard

First, you should consult a dentist about getting a night guard. If you grind your teeth at night, you’ll need an exam to see if any of your teeth have damage that the dentist can repair. Additionally, your dentist will provide you with a custom-fitted night guard. This option is more comfortable and fits better, making it more likely that you’ll continue to use it and see the full benefits of its use. Wearing a night guard stops your molars from wearing down. Through cushioning the teeth, you’ll prevent dental issues caused by bruxism, including:

• Worn enamel
• Cracked or broken teeth
• Damaged dental work
• Tooth sensitivity

Once you get a night guard and agree to wear it nightly, your dentist can repair the damage done by previous tooth grinding. You may require various restorative dental services to address dental issues caused by grinding. For instance, if you had cracks in the very tops of your teeth, you might need crowns over those teeth. Broken teeth may require root canals for repair. If you have dental work, such as fillings or crowns, that has been damaged by bruxism, your dentist can replace it. By wearing a night guard, you’ll avoid the cost and time required for future dental damage done by bruxism.