When you’re trying to take care of your teeth there are a number of different things you do, such as brushing, flossing, using mouthwash and even taking part in regular dental and hygiene check ups. But what many forget is that while you may be taking care of your teeth while you’re awake, you also need to take care of them while you sleep.

Dublin18 Dental Care near Leopardstown understands the importance of mouth guards to protect your teeth, and while you may think that they are mainly used to protect you whilst playing sport, you can also use them to protect your teeth while you sleep.

Night grinding

The most common need for a night guard is bruxism, which is the grinding or clenching of the teeth whilst you sleep. This can have a severe and damaging effect on your teeth and your jaw joint, as grinding your teeth whilst sleeping can wear the teeth through the enamel and into the dentin of your teeth and can loosen your teeth by destroying the bone supporting them. By wearing a night guard this problem can be dealt with as it distributes the bite forces evenly within your mouth, and acts as a barrier between any trauma that may be caused between the teeth and jawbones.

Night Guards

Dental night guards can also help those who suffer from snoring or mild sleep apnea, as the mouth guard can pull the lower jaw forward slightly which will open your airways and reduce the volume and frequency of the snoring. Many people who have used mouth guards have reported that other issues such as headaches and facial pains have also been reduced due to their use.

Night guards are also available in an array of forms such as soft night guards, hard/soft night guards and hard night guards. Contact the practice at Dublin18 Dental Care for more help and advice on night guards.