You desire to have white, straight, and gleaming teeth, right? Regular brushing, flossing, and cleaning are an ideal start, but if you are one of the millions of people who grind their teeth at night, you may require a nightguard to keep that smile of yours looking at its best.
For effective protection against the damage caused by grinding your teeth in your sleep, it is best to get a custom-fit nightguard.
Reasons to use a Nightguard
Gnashing, clenching, or grinding your teeth when you sleep can cause a swollen jaw as well as erode the protective enamel, causing painful sensitivity to cold or hot foods. Complaints of pain while chewing or tender jaw can also be a sign of teeth grinding.
If you suspect any of these signs, it is best to discuss the problem with a professional dental specialist, such as Dental Lab Direct.
Nightguards: Store-Bought or Dentist Made
When considering your varied options for a night mouth guard, you will likely come across some basic solutions: DIY guards, store-bought, or custom-molded guards curated by a dentist.
Here, we have detailed three factors that can help you make the right choice.
1. Durability
Mouth nightguards curated by dentists last longer than the store-bought ones as the fabrication is made up of higher quality of materials. They are stronger, and so, they offer the teeth greater protection against nighttime grinding.
On the other hand, store-bought night guards are made from cheaper types of plastic, so, they are inexpensive when compared to the ones made by the dentist. Mouth nightguards curated by the dentist can last for several years, whereas store-bought ones typically last less than a full year.
They also help alleviate jaw strain and lead to better jaw muscle positioning to prevent long-term teeth clenching and grinding during the day.
There are chances that the materials used in store-bought ones are not robust enough to withstand certain levels of grinding or that the guards may not stay in place during sleep cycles. Contingent on the severity, this could lessen the protection the nightguard is actually offering and still cause grave dental issues which could lead to root canals, crowns, or even tooth loss.
2. Customization
Mouth nightguards that are curated by a dentist are customized to fit your teeth properly, and therefore, they will not fit anyone else’s mouth. Your dentist takes an impression of your teeth that is used to develop a customized mouth guard that fits accurately over the teeth. Since nightguards curated by a dentist are designed to fit your teeth, they provide greater comfort and a better fit than their counterparts.
On the other hand, store-bought night guards are already fashioned with a one-type-fits-all design. While they may fit some individuals well, they are not going to deliver a comfortable fit for everyone.
3. Pricing
Because of the extra amount of work involved in curating the nightguards made by the dentist, their cost is considerably higher than what you would pay for a store-bought one.
But this is exactly where Dental Lab Direct comes into play. We at Dental Lab Direct provide custom made nightguards at a fraction of the cost of the dentist because we get it done remotely at a lab.
If you go for a store-bought mouthguard, you might need to try a couple of different sizes and brands until you find the one that works best for you. A frank discussion with your dentist can give you some insight on how serious your teeth grinding is, and can also give you insight into which option she/he thinks is the most appropriate for your dental care.
If you have a habit of grinding at night and it’s causing you pain, take an online consultation immediately with us at Dental Lab. Do not hesitate to reach out to us to discuss the advantages of a night mouth guard or any other dental appliances you or your family may require!
