A Night Guard Mystery

Why is a night guard good for you?

If you are suffering from tooth wear, it is possible that you were suggested to wear a night guard. A night guard is a wonderful device to protect your teeth from grinding together during sleep. This type of grinding is called “bruxism”. It is a side to side movement of your jaw during sleep meditated by your brain impulses. It is one that if there were a person beside you while sleeping can distinctively hear. On average, 5% of the population suffer from bruxer, check with your dentist. A night guard can save your teeth.

Why a night guard can be bad for you.

I don’t mean to confuse you but if you are not a true bruxer (not grinding from side to side during sleep), your wear can form other problems. One of the other problems is a sleep disorder or a sleep apnea. Often people suffering from a sleep apnea show remarkable tooth wear somewhat similar to bruxism. This can be quite confusing. If you have some type of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), your night guard can make it worse because a night guard can open your lower jaw and push the lower jaw back. This means pushing your tongue posturing more behind than usual. This collapse of your tongue can lead to more incidences’ of sleep apnea. If you suffer from snoring, or not getting enough sleep, or your partner suspects you are suffering from a sleep apnea, it is important that you check with your medical doctor who can help you with proper diagnosis. It is important to know which is which so that you are getting a treatment for proper conditions. Please remember sleep apnea is a medical condition, you need to consult with your medical doctor or a sleep doctor.