What is bruxism and who suffers from it?
Adults, who's job or way of life involves a lot of stress, are the most likely candidates to be diagnosed with bruxism. Bruxism, or simply teeth grinding, is a condition that mostly affects people during sleep and known to cause premature teeth wear, toothache, headache and jaw pain.
Unfortunately, nearly 80% of Americans who suffer from bruxism do not get diagnosed and therefore go untreated. Of the remaining 20% that are diagnosed with the problem, majority do not take any steps in resolving the problem due to the high price tag on individual treament.
What is a night guard and how it can help?
It is a known fact that teeth are made of the hardest material that can be produced by the human body, but even teeth have to be protected from wearing off, cracking and breaking, especially when eating or sleeping. Getting a night guard can be a fast, easy and inexpensive solution for people with bruxism.
First of all, it important to understand that there are two (2) types of night guards - for the lower teeth and for the upper teeth.
Lower teeth night guard:
These are usually adjustable and are ready to use out of the package. The band normally covers the front of the lower teeth, while flat parts protect the molars. Advantage of this type is that it uses less materials and can be applied instantly. A disadvantage of the lower teeth night guard, however, is that it is designed with a perfect occlusion (bite) in mind, so it can be impractical for some people.
Upper teeth night guard:
Night guard for the upper teeth is very similar to the one provided by the dentist. It is a soft U-shaped piece of plastic, which is boiled and than placed over the person's teeth to achieve a custom fit. The advantages of this type are a better fit vs. the lower type and the abilities to hold in place more securely and cover all the teeth. These makes the upper night guard a better solution for people with any malocclusion type.
Are dental night guards right for me?
The use of a dental night guard is essential for for anyone who suffers from bruxism, teeth gringing and clenching. There are substantial benefits to use of night guards, such as improved breathing at night, better overall comfort, less headaches in the morning and reduced tension in neck, shoulders and jaw muscles.
Other benefist of using a night guard include:
- Helps to reduce grinding and clenching of teeth, thus protecting them from damage.
- Night guard alows for improved breathing at night, as the air passages are kept open.
- Headaches, neck and shoulder tension can be drammatically reduced.
- Getting a night guard helps to attain a better and more comforting night sleep, allowing the wearer to wake up refreshed and feeling more energetic.
- Tension and stress on jaw muscles and joints can be drastically reduced, thus prolonging their life and reducing or preventing progression of any orthodontic conditions.
- Sometimes, the use of night guard can also help to reduce snoring, allowing the wearer and other to have a better nigh sleep.
- One of the most substantial advantages of night guards, is their ability to prevent and reduce fractures, premature tooth wear, chipping and loosening of teeth.
The cost of night guards
The cost of custom made dental night guards can be in the $400.00 range.
However, today, there's a wide variety of night guards available on the internet and local pharmacy stores priced as low as $25.00, making them an accessable and affordable solution.