Mouthguard
McMinnville, OR
 Using Mouthguards At Night
If you are suffering from sleep problems, snoring, unconscious tooth grinding, or another nighttime-related sleep issues, a mouthguard could be the right device for you. Nighttime mouthguards can help keep your teeth safe from the things you do unconsciously and can also stop some nighttime health problems, just like a sportsguard can help for physical activity. Using a nighttime mouthguard is something that our dentists at Hometown Dental recommend because it has a lot of not so well-known benefits.
Nighttime mouthguards are all about protecting your teeth from sleep grinding. Grinding our teeth is a very bad habit and it can peel away the enamel and the structure of our teeth if we do it over time. While most people are able to get their conscious grinding under control and break the habit, unconsciously, it is a much harder habit to break.
Sleep Grinding
While we sleep our bodies move. While some of the movements are good, like breathing and tossing around, others can be bad. We might grind our teeth while sleeping, ruining all the good work you have done to break the habit during the day.
A mouthguard acts like a vise that holds your teeth in place, and it becomes much harder for you to grind them unconsciously. You do need a durable nighttime mouthguard to ensure that you will not break it and resume grinding your teeth.
One of the best types of mouthguards you can get to avoid grinding your teeth is the ’boil and bite’ mouthguard. This mouthguard starts as a giant lump of plastic, and you will need to boil it in hot water. Once the mouthguard’s plastic becomes soft and flexible, you withdraw it from the hot water.
Place it in your mouth until it fits completely inside of your mouth, and then bite down hard. Your teeth should go through the soft plastic and you will need to hold them there. After a while, you will have a mouthguard that is made specifically for your teeth, and you can use it with confidence.
What Else Can A Mouthguard Help With?
One of the biggest sleep-related problems is snoring, which comes from obstructed airways and from jaw problems. One of the ways to correct your jaw problem and get those airways unblocked is to use a mouthguard for snoring.
Typically, a mouthguard brings the lower part of your jaw forward, and this allows for your tongue to rest in your mouth. Without a mouthguard, the tongue can slide back into the mouth and block airways, but a mouthguard corrects the positioning. Then, there is no more snoring, and everyone can get a good night’s sleep.
Getting The Right Nightguard For You
Not all nightguards are created equal, and if you can find a custom mouth guard that can comfortably fit your teeth, then you might find the solution to some of your nighttime problems. They can prevent snoring, teeth clenching and grinding, and a host of other difficulties.
If you have any more questions about finding a good nightguard, please call 971-287-3477 to speak to one of our dentists. They will be very happy to help you out with an appointment. |
