Why Night Mouthguards Are Important
Do you wake up with a sore jaw, sensitive teeth, or a headache that seems to come out of nowhere? You may be grinding or clenching your teeth while you sleep without realizing it.
This habit, known as bruxism, can place significant pressure on your teeth, bone, jaw muscles, and dental restorations. Over time, it may lead to worn enamel, cracked teeth, jaw discomfort, expensive dental repairs, bone recession and even tooth loss.
A dental office can create a custom nightguard that protects your upper and lower teeth while you sleep. It does not necessarily stop the grinding habit itself, but it can help protect your teeth from the damage caused by repeated clenching and grinding.
What Is a Mouth Nightguard?
A mouth nightguard is a removable oral appliance that fits over either the upper or lower teeth. It is typically worn while sleeping to keep the teeth separated and reduce direct contact between them.
Depending on your needs, a nightguard may be made from a firm or slightly flexible dental material. A dentist-designed appliance is created to fit the shape of your teeth and bite, allowing it to remain more secure and comfortable during sleep.
Nightguards may also be called:
- Occlusal guards
- Mouth guards
- Bruxism guards
- Dental splints
- Bite splints
- Stabilization appliances
Although the names vary, their primary purpose is to protect the teeth and reduce the effects of grinding or clenching.
Signs You Need A Nightguard
Nightguards are not only for people who can hear themselves grinding their teeth. Many people grind while asleep and do not know it is happening until a partner notices the sound or a dentist identifies signs of damage.
You may benefit from a nightguard if you experience any of the following.
You Grind Your Teeth at Night
Sleep bruxism involves repeatedly grinding, clenching, or pressing the teeth together during sleep.
Over time, this pressure can wear down the enamel and change the shape of the biting surfaces. A nightguard keeps the upper and lower teeth separated, helping reduce direct tooth-to-tooth damage.
You Clench Your Jaw
Not everyone with bruxism makes a grinding sound. Some people tightly clench their jaw without moving their teeth back and forth.
Jaw clenching can place considerable pressure on the teeth, jaw joints, surrounding structures and muscles. You may wake up with a tired or tight feeling in your face even if you never hear grinding.
You Wake Up With Jaw Pain or Headaches
Morning jaw soreness, facial discomfort, or tension headaches may be related to overworked chewing muscles.
These symptoms can also be associated with temporomandibular joint disorders. If you experience chronic jaw pain, clicking, popping, or difficulty opening your mouth, a complete TMJ/TMD evaluation can help determine what is causing the problem.
We may recommend a custom nightguard as part of a broader treatment plan when grinding or clenching is contributing to your symptoms. However, oral appliances do not resolve every cause of TMD, and they should not be designed to permanently change your bite.
Your Teeth Look Flat, Short, or Worn
Healthy teeth naturally have curves, grooves, and defined biting edges. Repeated grinding can gradually flatten these surfaces.
Other signs of dental wear may include:
- Small chips along the edges of the teeth
- Cracks in the enamel
- Uneven tooth length
- Increased yellowing as enamel becomes thinner
- Rough or sharp edges
- Changes in the way your bite feels
During your routine dental exam and cleaning, your dentist can look for early signs of wear that may not yet be visible to you.
You Have Sensitive Teeth
Grinding can gradually wear away protective enamel and place stress on the teeth. As the enamel becomes thinner, the teeth may become more sensitive to hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods.
Bruxism can also contribute to small fractures that make sensitivity worse. The Mayo Clinic advises people who grind their teeth to ask their dentist about a mouthguard because grinding may break teeth and contribute to sensitivity.
Why Are Nightguards Important?
Grinding damage usually happens gradually. Because it may not cause immediate pain, many people do not realize there is a problem until a tooth fractures or significant enamel has already been lost.
Without protection, advanced grinding damage may eventually require:
- Dental bonding
- Fillings
- Crowns
- Root canal treatment
- Tooth replacement
- Full-mouth rehabilitation
Identifying bruxism early can help protect the natural teeth and reduce the need for more extensive treatment later.
Custom Nightguard vs. Store-Bought Nightguard
Over-the-counter nightguards are widely available, but they are not customized to your exact bite.
Store-Bought Nightguards
These appliances are generally available in standard sizes or as boil-and-bite products. They may provide temporary protection, but they can sometimes feel bulky, fit unevenly, or move during sleep.
A poorly fitting appliance may also make it more difficult to breathe, speak, or sleep comfortably.
Custom Nightguards
A custom nightguard is made from impressions or digital scans of your teeth.
Benefits may include:
- A more precise fit
- Greater comfort
- Better retention during sleep
- A less bulky design
- Material selected for your needs
- A fit that accounts for your bite and dental work
Because comfort affects whether you actually wear the appliance consistently, the fit is an important part of successful treatment.
Is a Nightguard the Same as a Sports Mouthguard?
No. Although both cover the teeth, they serve different purposes.
A nightguard is designed to manage the pressure and friction associated with sleeping, grinding, and clenching. A sports mouthguard is designed to absorb impact during athletic activities and reduce the risk of dental trauma.
You should not use a nightguard as a substitute for an athletic mouthguard or wear a bulky sports guard as a long-term grinding appliance unless your dentist specifically recommends it.
Protect Your Smile While You Sleep
You may not be able to control what your jaw does while you are asleep, but you can take steps to protect your teeth.
A custom nightguard from Sleep Dentistry may help reduce wear, protect dental restorations, and lower the risk of cracks caused by nighttime grinding and clenching.
Our team provides comfortable, personalized dental care for patients at our Portland dental office, Vancouver West location, and Vancouver East location. If dental anxiety has made it difficult to schedule care, we also offer personalized sedation options for patients who need additional support during treatment.
Contact Sleep Dentistry to schedule an examination and find out whether a custom nightguard may be right for you.
