A nightguard is usually worn while sleeping to prevent additional grinding of your teeth. It is much better to wear a nightguard, or splint than it is to wear down your natural teeth. Sometimes, a nightguard can be used as a form of therapy when individuals have Temporo Mandibular Joint (TMJ) dysfunction. Keeping your jaws separated will help to reduce the ‘bone on bone’ contact that comes with overclosure of your upper and lower jaws. Some people wear a nightguard their whole life and some wear it only while they are experiencing TMJ issues. A nightguard can also help to reduce or mitigate a sleep apnea condition by separating the jaws and preventing the tongue from settling too far back in their mouth.
A mouthguard is an appliance that is typically worn by athletes, especially in contact sports, to help to protect the teeth and reduce concussions. Talk to our professionals for more information.