Can Night Guards Ruin Your Teeth?
Night guards help protect the teeth and jaws against pressure and forces exerted against them, which happens most often through chronically grinding the teeth or clenching the jaw. While most dentists and patients find that night guards can make a considerable difference in reducing damage to the teeth and addressing symptoms of TMJ disorders, it is possible for night guards to damage the teeth under certain conditions.
How do Night Guards Work?
Night guards resemble teeth-whitening trays, fitting over the upper and lower teeth and preventing the upper and lower rows of teeth from making contact with each other. In turn, they prevent the grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaw that characterize bruxism. Most often worn while sleeping, night guards help reduce wear and tear on dental enamel, minimize strain on the jaw muscles, and help relieve symptoms like jaw pain and headaches while preventing damaged or fractured teeth. Patients can purchase over-the-counter night guards, which come in a few different styles, or they can have their dentist design a custom night guard using a model of their mouth. When night guards are designed and fitted properly, they are highly effective in relieving the pressure that comes with bruxism, reducing stress on the jaw, and relieving discomfort while protecting the teeth from erosion or breakage.
How Could a Night Guard Harm My Teeth?
When night guards are poorly made or improperly fitted, or if they are used incorrectly, they could cause harm to the teeth. The fit of over-the-counter night guards isn’t as precise as the fit of custom ones, and an imbalanced fit can exert uneven pressure on the teeth, gradually resulting in tooth movement and possibly leading to bite alignment if used for an extended period of time. This is more likely to happen with patients whose gums and teeth are already weakened by gum disease. Night guards can also cause harm if they aren’t cleaned regularly and properly. Just as the teeth and gums suffer when bacteria are allowed to attack them unchecked, night guards require daily cleaning to keep them free from harmful bacteria. Dentists recommend brushing the night guard with a soft-bristled toothbrush reserved exclusively for this use, washing and rinsing the night guard every morning, and allowing it to dry; this cleaning routine should be performed every time the night guard is worn. When they aren’t cleaned properly, night guards can become a bacterial breeding ground; when dirty night guards are worn, they can irritate the gum tissue, cause infection, and foster the perfect environment for gum disease and cavities. Likewise, it’s essential to thoroughly clean the teeth by brushing and flossing before putting in a night guard, which can trap bacteria and food debris and allow bacteria to flourish. Using a night guard without a proper bruxism diagnosis could mask the fact that underlying medical issues are triggering the problem, allowing the underlying issue to progress and potentially making the symptoms, like bruxism, worse. Just as inappropriate use can cause problems, so can overuse. Patients should wear their night guards at night – hence, their name – unless otherwise directed. Wearing a night guard for too long, without guidance from a dentist, could affect the bite or excessively fatigue the jaw muscles.
How Can I Minimize These Risks?
With consultation from a dentist and an appropriately designed and selected night guard, it’s possible to prevent a night guard from ruining your teeth. It’s more than possible; it’s pretty easy if you take the right steps. While custom-made night guards cost more than over-the-counter ones, they provide exceptional comfort and superlative protection, and keeping the night guard, teeth, and gums clean adds an extra layer of insurance that your night guard will do far more good than harm.