How to Help Your Child Remain Consistent with Invisalign
Any time you invest in your child’s health, you want to ensure the outcome. Here, we discuss ways to help your teen get with the program and get the most out of Invisalign®.
Nighttime Ops — A Simple Night Guard Can Correct Snoring and Grinding
Snoring or grinding your teeth at night can keep you awake and prevent you from getting a restful night’s sleep. Grinding can also bring on painful headaches or toothaches. Night guards won’t help you break bad habits, but they do provide a protective layer against wear-and-tear on your teeth from clenching and grinding.
At Rifkin Dental, with offices in Yorktown Heights and Carmel, New York, our team of experts can help you achieve better sleep. Find out how night guards can ease painful symptoms while reducing your chances of negative oral health consequences.
What are night guards?
Nightguards protect your teeth from chips, cracks, excess pressure on your jaw, and other dental health issues. Grinding and clenching while you sleep wears down your teeth’s enamel layer, which may eventually require cosmetic dental work like crowns and veneers.
Because no two mouths are alike, you need a customized mouthguard to support proper alignment in your mouth. Over-the-counter mouthguards from the drugstore just aren’t as effective. One of our dentists can fit you for the type of night guard that’s right for you.
You might need a few weeks to adjust to wearing a night guard. This is normal, and your mouth will adjust over time. Your night guard should be comfortable enough to sleep in because it is custom-fit to your mouth.
How can night guards help?
A mouthguard for sleep apnea can reduce snoring by pulling your tongue and lower jaw forward, opening up your airway. Teeth grinding and clenching cause several issues, including tooth and jaw pain as well as sore gums. And you run the risk of damaging your teeth in the long run.
A night guard can keep your top and bottom teeth from being in direct contact, ultimately reducing pressure from teeth grinding.
One of our dentists evaluates the severity of your case and recommends the best mouthguard option for you. Wearing a night guard while you sleep can help:
- Enhance airflow
- Decrease snoring
- Prevent grinding
- Lead to healthier sleep
You should bring your night guard with you to your regular dental appointments. This allows us to make sure that it continues to work correctly. One of our specialists will inspect for wear-and-tear while ensuring that it continues to fit well in your mouth. Commit to using your night guard regularly to ward off symptoms of your condition.
Keeping your night guard clean
Your mouthguard can expose you to harmful bacteria if you don’t take care of it. Practice proper hygiene to ensure that your mouth stays clean. Here are some ways you can care for your mouthguard:
- Always brush and floss before putting in your night guard
- Rinse it with cold water after every use
- After rinsing, lightly brush it with your toothbrush
- Store your night guard in a hard case with ventilation
- Allow it to dry completely between uses
Unfortunately, night guards do not last forever. Regularly check for holes or signs of damage. You should replace your night guard about every three years.
Call one of our two offices today to book an appointment so you can stop snoring and grinding your teeth.
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