Mouthguards are a highly-recommended safety measure for those who partake in sport and physical activity. They minimize the risk of injury within sports and for general accidents. Today, mouthguards are also necessary for those who suffer from Bruxism. This is also known as teeth grinding, a condition where people grind their teeth at night during sleep.
When teeth grind, they become progressively damaged, causing low confidence and hiding your smile. The difficulty with Bruxism is that as it happens during sleep, you’re oblivious to determine whether it happening to you until you get a second opinion or identify that your teeth are gradually degrading. If you suffer from stress or anxiety, you’re more than likely to suffer the problem.
Luckily, modern dental technology now specializes in dental mouthguards. Mouthguards help relax the jaw muscles and create a barrier between the upper and lower teeth to prevent grinding.
What Does A Mouthguard Do?
Below detail what a mouthguard does for your teeth:
- Improves Your Bite – Teeth may become crowded naturally causing an abnormal bite. This is known as malocclusion. The upper teeth should fit slightly over the lower teeth. Mouthguards requested from the dentist will help to protect your teeth from grinding and straighten within time. The mouthguard helps move and create space within the teeth.
- It Improves Sleeping Patterns – Dental mouthguards provide maximum comfort in your level of sleep. You’ll begin to feel a significant reduction of headaches and facial soreness when you wake up. When muscles are relaxed, you’re less likely to contract TMJ disorder.
- Headache Prevention – Headaches are common for many people when they wake up. It is very difficult to determine whether bruxism is the cause of it. Mouthguards make a huge difference when it comes to this. Using a mouthguard consistently every night will limit your headaches when you wake up.
- It Protects Your Teeth – Fundamentally, mouthguards protect the look and feel of your teeth. A mouthguard should typically be used after any kind of dental treatment caused by Bruxism. You’ll feel more confident in your smile and experience a better quality of life.
- It Is Worth The Cost – Tooth damage caused by grinding can be quite costly. You’ll experience severe degrading of teeth if it’s not captured. Whilst initially, aesthetic and restorative treatments could be expensive now, the long-term results will begin to outweigh the cost of treatment.
Wearing a mouthguard is an important precaution for all people suffering from Bruxism or perform regular physical activity. Whilst using a mouthguard, continue these recommendations within your oral routine:
- Brush and floss your teeth before wearing the mouthguard
- Do not chew on the mouthguard
- Wash and dry your mouthguard appropriately after daily use
- Store the mouthguard in a plastic container within a ventilated area if not in use
- Do not leave the mouthguard in direct sunlight
Do you need a dental mouthguard? Find out here!
If you suffer from Bruxism or are looking for a solution to your degraded teeth, Our dentists in Woden are ready to serve you. Contact us now!