Wearing a night guard while you sleep offers a vital solution to the damaging effects of teeth grinding, but choosing the right type is crucial. While the allure of cheaper over-the-counter (OTC) or online products is strong, a custom night guard from your dentist provides significant benefits that warrant careful consideration.
Do You Need a Night Guard?
A night guard serves as a protective barrier, preventing teeth damage and offering relief to those who grind or clench their teeth during sleep. This common and often destructive condition, known as bruxism, can lead to a range of uncomfortable symptoms. According to the American Sleep Association (ASA), chronic teeth grinding can cause:
Fatigue
Facial pain
Jaw soreness
Morning headaches
Beyond personal discomfort, the noise from nightly teeth grinding can also disrupt a sleeping partner. More critically, consistent grinding wears away tooth enamel, potentially leading to broken teeth and even tooth loss.
While the exact causes of bruxism are not always clear, contributing factors can include anxiety, stress, misaligned teeth, an abnormal bite, snoring, smoking, alcohol consumption, caffeine, and sleep apnea (a condition where breathing is obstructed during sleep).
Understanding Night Guard Types
If your dentist confirms bruxism as the root of your dental issues, exploring night guard options is the next step. Your choices typically include an over-the-counter night guard from a pharmacy, a product from an online company, or a custom night guard provided by your dentist.
The ASA outlines two main types of over-the-counter night guards:
One-size-fits-all: These are designed to accommodate most mouth shapes.
Boil-and-bite: These require heating and biting into them to create a more personalized fit.
Online night guard providers offer a slightly more tailored approach, often asking for dental impressions to create a product. However, these may not always achieve a perfect fit.
For the most precise fit, a custom night guard made by your dentist is the gold standard. Your dentist will take a professional impression of your teeth and send it to a laboratory for fabrication. At a subsequent appointment, they'll ensure the night guard fits perfectly before you take it home.
Pros and Cons of a Custom Night Guard
Night guards differ significantly in terms of comfort, cost, safety, and durability. While OTC and online products are generally less expensive than custom night guards, they lack the precise fit, as noted by the ASA. Furthermore, a study in the British Dental Journal linked online-purchased night guards to potential tissue damage, teeth movement, and even a choking hazard. A custom-fitted night guard from your dentist offers the safest and most accurate fit because it's specifically designed for your unique dental structure.
Before making your decision, it's essential to discuss all your options with your dentist. This conversation will empower you to make an informed choice that best suits your oral health needs.
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