TMJ Night Guard
It’s possible that you can buy a night guard over the counter, but we don’t recommend this option. If you need a mouth guard, your dentist can give you the best possible mouth guard you can use, right here. A non-customized teeth grinding mouth guard is often sold in retail outlets and in sporting goods stores and are usually the least expensive option. Cost aside, they may feel bulky and make talking or even breathing difficult. This type of teeth grinding mouth guard offers relatively little protection, and is not recommended by dental professionals. Better and slightly customizable alternatives are the thermoplastic devices that are boiled or warmed in hot water and then placed over the teeth to be shaped accordingly.
A dental night guard is designed to conform to the teeth when heated, so they must be first soaked in hot but not boiling tap water for about thirty seconds before inserting in the mouth. Once the occlusal guard is in place, the wearer should bite down firmly to seat it into place. If the first attempt at seating the TMJ night guard is not comfortable, it can be heated in hot water again and reseated.
One of the side effects of wearing the device is the production of excess saliva. If this occurs, users should not worry, as it should subside within a few days. Many people will unconsciously remove the dental night guard in their sleep. If this happens to a wearer, he or she should try it on again the next night. Within a couple of weeks, most wearers find that they have adjusted to the device and no longer produce the extra saliva or remove it during the sleep.
Why Do You Need a Dental Mouth Guard?
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There are two possible reasons you may need a dental mouth guard. One is that you play a contact sport. If your sport involves physical contact with other players, a fast-moving ball that can hit your face, or even just the possibility of falling to the ground, you’ll need a mouth guard to protect your teeth from damage and your mouth from lacerations. The mouth guard absorbs any impact and it also keeps the inside of your mouth from getting cut by your teeth.
The other main reason for using a mouth guard is bruxism, which refers to the constant or frequent clenching and grinding of your teeth. Often this happens at night, which is why this kind of mouth guard is also called a night guard. Grinding your teeth can damage them. It will become painful and you may end up losing your teeth if you don’t do anything to correct it.
Why Get a Dental Mouth Guard?
The main problem with over-the-counter mouth guards is that they’re not customized precisely to your fit. That makes them uncomfortable to wear, so you won’t be able to play at your best or sleep soundly at night. It may even impede your breathing, which again affects your play and your sleep.
These inferior mouth guards can also be useless when used for sports. They may not allow you to talk, which is crucial when you need to communicate with your teammates. And in some cases, they may not even work well enough to prevent damage to your teeth at all.
With us, we will tailor your mouth guard so that it will fit over your teeth and in your mouth perfectly. You’ll be comfortable wearing them and you’ll be able to breathe properly. You can even talk when you play, and you can be sure that your mouth guard will absorb any hard impact to your teeth.
Protect Your Teeth By Using A Teeth Grinding Mouth Guard
A teeth grinding mouth guard may be appropriate for virtually any adult or child who participates in contact sports or even noncontact sports or recreational activity that may expose them to jaw, mouth, or dental injury. Teeth grinding, and the potential damage that this may cause, likely warrants wearing a TMJ appliance as soon as possible, and wearing special bite plates or splints at night can be tremendously beneficial. Accordingly, properly caring for your mouth guard by keeping it clean and monitoring it for wear between dental checks may keep your teeth protected and looking their best.
Getting Used To the Night Guard
Once the TMJ night guard has been removed from the mouth in the morning, the feel of the bite of the teeth may seem odd for a few minutes. Remember that the device is working to relax the lower muscles in the jaw and will change the bite in order to keep the jaw more relaxed during the day. As you continue to use the device, you should find it easier to speak as you get used to it. You may actually hear a difference in your speech that is magnified in your ears, but not so noticeable to others.
It is important that users do not clench their teeth onto the guard as well. Any clenching, either teeth to teeth or teeth to night guard can cause pain or muscle spasms. The only time that the teeth should touch is when chewing food. This means giving up your habit of chewing gum as well.
When the TMJ night guard is removed from the mouth in the morning, it should be rinsed in cool water. If necessary, a toothbrush and toothpaste can be used to clean the outside of the guard. The inside that forms around the teeth should not be brushed. If toothpaste does not do an adequate job at cleansing the guard, the user may want to soak it using a good quality denture cleaner. Never use alcohol based products such as mouthwash or boil the occlusal guard. Make sure that you do an adequate job at brushing and flossing your teeth each morning after wearing the guard.
Your TMJ night guard should come with a storage case. They can be stored dry and should never be stored in products containing alcohol, such as many mouthwashes.
If you are experiencing jaw pain, you may want to avoid hard to chew foods while the ligaments, muscles and TMJ joints heal. Once they have healed, you can go back to eating these foods if you enjoy them. If the pain returns, use moist heat to help bring relief. In most cases, a hot, wet washcloth provides relief and can be used up to 20 minutes three to four times daily. In addition, many sufferers find that hot liquids, such as a favorite tea helps to bring relief from the pain.
Persons that suffer from TMJ problems can often benefit from a TMJ night guard. The occlusal guard helps to prevent clenching of the teeth and reduces pain.
