Do you have the habit of clenching or grinding teeth while asleep? Do you often wake up with constant headaches, toothache, or jaw pain most days? If so, you might need a customized night guard from Lowery Smiles.

At Lowery Smiles, we focus on preventive dental care as much as we address dental problems with dental treatments. Night guards are one example of a preventative method we prescribe to patients, especially those suffering from bruxism or teeth grinding, to guard the teeth against excessive wear and relieve temporomandibular joint pain.

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Night Guards

Night Guards are small, transparent trays or mouth guards fabricated using cutting-edge technology to fit over your teeth securely to protect them. They safeguard teeth from problems caused by bruxism to give you a relaxed sleep at night and less pain as you wake up in the morning.

Benefits of Night Guards

Prevent damage

Teeth grinding can cause the teeth to crack, chip, or wear down, exposing the dentin or tooth nerves. If left untreated, this can lead to teeth sensitivity, gum recession, and even loose teeth. When you use a custom-made night guard, it prevents the grinding of the upper and lower teeth against each other, thus avoiding any potential damage.

Ease discomfort

Bruxism can lead to severe headaches and tooth pain once you wake up. Wearing a night guard can ease the discomfort and make you feel significantly better in the morning.

Treating TMJ

Severe teeth grinding or jaw clenching can cause TMJ disorder. It is an uncomfortable condition that starts out as a sore jaw, occasional headache, face pain, neck pain, or jaw pain while eating. Wearing a night guard prevents jaw clenching or teeth grinding in sleep and prevents TMJ disorders.

Occlusal Guards

A dental occlusal guard is a mouthguard used to protect your teeth from excessive wear and tear. This helps to prevent tooth loss and tooth damage. The guard helps you to maintain your oral health as well as your general health and well-being.

There are several benefits of wearing occlusal guards, including:

  • They reduce the damage caused by bruxism to your teeth and other oral tissues like gums and TMJ.
  • They help you get a good night’s sleep without feeling tired or fatigued due to lack of sleep caused by bruxism.
  • They keep your mouth in good health as they prevent tooth loss caused due to excessive wear on your teeth due to grinding and clenching of the jaw muscles during sleep.
  • Occlusal guards promote good oral hygiene as they prevent plaque from adhering to the surfaces of your teeth.
  • They improve your confidence level as they prevent damaged facial features like chipped or cracked teeth caused due to bruxism.

How Do Night Guards Help Alleviate the Symptoms of Bruxism?

Bruxism or chronic jaw clenching and teeth grinding can cause an individual to wake up at night with jaw pain, headaches, and sore teeth. Several factors can lead to bruxism, including stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, an abnormal bite, and missing or poorly aligned teeth.

When you wear a night guard while sleeping, they cover the teeth and keep the jaws slightly apart. Thus, it prevents muscle strain, undue pressure on the jaw joint (the TMJ), and dental damages like chipped or cracked teeth and damage to the soft and hard tissues around the orofacial cavity resulting from the teeth that grind against each other.

Thus, a custom-made night guard can help restrain a patient from teeth grinding and give the wearer a good night’s sleep.

Lowery Smiles, located in Cary, NC, has expert dentists and the latest amenities for treatment. Call Dentist in Cary, NC at (919) 468-5501 and schedule an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Night Guards

What is a night guard?

A night guard is a custom-made dental appliance that fits over your teeth to protect them from damage caused by teeth grinding (bruxism) and jaw clenching. Learn more about our preventive services on the Preventive Dentistry page.

Who needs a night guard?

Patients who grind their teeth, clench their jaw, or suffer from headaches, tooth pain, or TMJ discomfort may benefit from a night guard. Our dentists can assess your need during a consultation.

How do night guards prevent teeth damage?

Night guards act as a protective barrier between the upper and lower teeth, preventing chips, cracks, and excessive wear. Learn more about treatment options for tooth damage on our Restorative Dentistry page.

Can night guards help with TMJ disorder?

Yes, night guards reduce muscle strain on the jaw joint, alleviating symptoms of TMJ disorder such as jaw pain, headaches, and facial discomfort. For more information, see our TMJ Disorder Treatment page.

Are night guards comfortable to wear?

Custom-made night guards are designed to fit snugly and comfortably over your teeth, allowing you to sleep without discomfort. You can learn more about our dental technology on the Intraoral Camera page, which we use to ensure precise fits.