What Is a Night Guard and What Are the Benefits of Night Guard Therapy?
A dental night guard is a protective appliance made of durable plastic material worn during sleeping hours. It fits comfortably over your teeth – either over the teeth on the lower or upper arch.
Night guard therapy in Tampa has many benefits. With a dental night guard, you’ll get a great return on your financial investment.
Decreased Pain
When you clench and grind your teeth every night, tension is created in your head, face, neck, and shoulder muscles. If you wake up in the morning with a headache, facial pain, stiff shoulders, or a sore neck, you might have a problem with nocturnal bruxism.
Additionally, bruxism can cause tooth pain. Clenching down on your teeth all night can leave your teeth and gums feeling sore and bruised. Over time, clenching and grinding can cause the enamel to break down, resulting in cracked or chipped teeth that eventually break.
Thankfully, wearing a night guard from your Tampa dentist can ease muscle tension, as well as gum and tooth soreness.
Fewer Headaches
It’s not uncommon for patients who struggle with bruxism to experience chronic headaches and migraines. The headaches are often caused by the facial muscle tension that occurs when you clench your teeth.
Taking steps to reduce daytime stress – like practicing meditation or getting a massage – can help reduce tension.
Unfortunately, it often isn’t enough because it’s difficult to control nocturnal bruxism. You’re asleep, after all!
That is where night guard therapy in Tampa comes into play. Wearing a dental guard at night helps relieve the tension, so you wake up with fewer headaches and less muscle tension that can make you more prone to a headache later in the day.
