Night guards help to protect your teeth and jaw from damage.
If you have trouble sleeping because you’re grinding your teeth and jaws, or if you frequently wake up in the morning with jaw pain, headaches, or soreness, it might be time to consider wearing a night guard. These removable dental appliances are worn while sleeping to protect the teeth from damage caused by clenching or grinding the teeth during the night. Over time, this damage could lead to sensitivity or worn-down teeth, and it may even result in tooth loss in severe cases. Avoiding such damage is extremely important for your health and comfort, so using a night guard if you need it is a no-brainer.
While night guards are helpful for protecting teeth from damage, they may not necessarily stop the teeth from grinding. Underlying issues like stress, an abnormal bite, or an airway problem may be at fault for this habit. For a long-term solution, it’s important to address the cause of the teeth grinding, and in the meantime, night guards serve as effective physical barriers that help prevent enamel erosion.
Night guards can be worn by people of all ages, but anyone who plans to wear a night guard should have a professional evaluation done—especially children since the guards could interfere with the growth of their developing teeth. In addition, night guards should be customized for each person to ensure a proper fit, jaw alignment, and comfort.
Custom night guards are made by taking an impression of your teeth and creating a dental model or digital scan, which is then used to fabricate the night guard itself out of a durable material like acrylic or dual-laminate. Other options exist, like over-the-counter night guards, but they are not recommended; visiting a dentist for a custom-made night guard ensures a good fit and helps to avoid worsening any existing issues with a poor-fitting guard. Plus, it allows you to get a professional opinion as to whether a night guard is a good option for you.
At Dentistry by the Lake, we offer a wide variety of general dentistry services, including dental guards, and patients located in and around Toronto, Ontario can turn to our office for the night guards they need. With over 20 years in business, we have the knowledge and experience required to help patients determine whether night guards are a good solution for their individual needs and then take the necessary steps to get their custom night guards made and properly fitted.
Our dental office is locally owned and operated, and you will find that we are dedicated to our community, offering our patients peace of mind and creating a warm, welcoming environment for all who need dental services.
If you are interested in a night guard to protect your teeth from damage caused by grinding and clenching, give our team a call today to request an appointment with a dentist. We will get you scheduled as soon as we can at a time that works for you.