Check our full article of all side effects, and FAQ here: Have you ever wondered if a night guard can shift your teeth? Dental night guards work by offering a layer of protection between your upper and lower teeth. However, because of the pressure that is placed on the guard, this can also put pressure on your jaw. Prolonged periods of wearing a nightguard can cause your teeth to move slightly and that will affect your bite.
Some dentists disagree completely with the use of nightguards. They argue that using one doesn’t offer a solution, but helps to mask the underlying cause of the grinding – sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is when someone stops breathing during sleep, however, studies have also shown because of how the jaw is affected it can result in grinding.
Choking or swallowing can also be an issue as not all guards will stay in place and many are fearful that this can result in choking if they are swallowed
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction otherwise known as TMJ disorder, and muscle discomfort can occur. Most dental mouthguards work by moving your lower jaw forward so that when you sleep you’re much less likely to grind your teeth. However, by doing this, there is a risk that you could experience TMJ (jaw joint) and muscle discomfort.
When using dental night guards, it’s possible that you'll experience tooth discomfort. This has been a common complaint, but it doesn’t cause any long term damage to your teeth and can be resolved by having the night guard adjusted.
Why do your teeth and/or gums hurt after wearing a night guard? Your teeth and gums shouldn't hurt after wearing a mouthguard. It’s normal to feel slight discomfort but if a nightguard is causing you pain it’s best to stop wearing it and consult with your dentist. It might just be that you are not used to wearing it or it’s a wrong fit for you.
How long is a nightguard supposed to last? It depends on the guard you use. Dentist lab ones can last several years, but disposable ones only last a week. You should change your night guard regularly to maintain hygiene standards.
Related:
How to clean mouthguard:
Why do people grind their teeth when they're asleep?
Stress and anxiety – if you are feeling stressed or anxious, you will struggle to relax at night which can result in grinding
Having an abnormal bite, or misaligned jaw will make teeth grinding worse
Crooked teeth – again this can cause your bite and jaw to be slightly out of place
Suffering from sleep apnea – this considered to be one of the main causes and the two are often closely linked.
In Conclusion, dental mouthguards offer an effective solution to teeth grinding, but they don’t treat the cause of the problem and can shift your teeth.
Many people who grind their teeth have discovered that they do so because they suffer from stress or sleep apnea and many people who have sleep apnea grind their teeth.
If you think you might have sleep apnea it’s a good idea to contact your physician so that they can refer you to a sleep study program.
Let us know in the comments if you have any further questions about dental night guard side effects and I’ll be happy to answer them.
Sleep well and see you in the next video!
0 Comments