Nightguard is a protective device that is made to facilitate the jaw of a person concurrently with creating a gap between upper and lower teeth. Their designs and sizes are meticulously made to safeguard the teeth from getting inflicted by tooth damage. Teeth injuries come in many types, prevention of teeth injuries that concern themselves with wearing a nightguard include collision, clenching, and wear and tear. Popular opinion amongst the society is to remain vigilant about oral hygiene by prioritizing the basic healthy teeth rituals such as brushing, flossing, using a mouthwash, avoiding excess of sugar, tobacco, and so on. However, we fail to acknowledge the essence of wearing it, when going to sleep. A time of the day when we lose control over our voluntary muscle movements. Therefore, let us enlighten ourselves with the pros and cons of a nightguard.
Pros of a Night Guard
The initial-most advantage of making use of a nightguard is the one that serves the purpose of its invention. It helps you protect your teeth during the nocturnal hours. It is a shield for your permanent dentition. Patients who have been diagnosed with Bruxism, for example, make use of this innovative device to diminish the clenching and grinding of their teeth. Since a person with Bruxism commits to the gnashing and clenching of teeth unconsciously, a nightguard can always prevent it from happening— a night guard creates a gap between a person’s upper and lower teeth. The gap makes breathing easier as the passage for airflow is widened and at the same time, teeth collision no longer remains a dilemma.
Snoring is another major concern for many people who cannot help but snore loudly when asleep. It is unimpeachable to state that snoring becomes a nuisance for those who have to hear it every night. A dental night guard also helps diminish the intensity of snoring. This happens due to the space created between the jaws and it becomes easier to breathe by mouth.
We talked about Bruxism, but the night guard also helps TMJ patients. The temporomandibular joint disorder makes it difficult for a person to move their jaw due to a detrimental impact on his/her temporomandibular joint. By wearing it, TMJ or TMD can be treated.
Lastly, besides preventing tooth damage, night guards are simply a great deal of comfort to wear. A custom-made one aligns perfectly with your jaw muscles, giving you the user, utmost relaxation. Hence, it can help improve your sleeping routine and assist you in functioning for the rest of the day.
Cons of a Night Guard
There are little to no side effects to wearing a nightguard. As mentioned in the introductory paragraph, the night guard’s purpose is to act as a protective device for your teeth; however, it can lead to small problems as well. For this very reason, it is imperative to our overall awareness to know how they may occur. For example, for starters, there are two types of night guards: custom night guards and over-the-counter night guards. Over-the-counter night guards are cheaper and are not carefully molded to suit your jaw and teeth perfectly. They come in freebie sizes (size that is adequate for all). Due to this, an over-the-counter user might start experiencing discomfort and, more importantly, irritation. This is why it is highly recommended to spend a little extra and to aim for a high-priced and more effective night guard.
Do not remain oblivious to the irritation and discomfort. In some rare cases, the mold of a custom-made one may also prove to be dissatisfactory. If the discomfort persists, reach out to your dentist and have him inspect the fit of it once more.