3 Tips for Getting Used to Night Guards
Night guards are dental appliances that can help prevent the effects of teeth grinding and jaw clenching. Most people who practice these two habits do so at night when sleeping. Unfortunately, prolonged teeth clenching can cause wear to the enamel, and this will cause sensitivity and cavities. On the other hand, jaw clenching leads to soreness and pain in the jaw, misalignment, and even tension headaches. That's why you need to talk to your dentist about getting night guards that are worn in your mouth to prevent grinding and jaw clenching.
Night guards can take a while to get used to. That's why you need these tips to ensure a smooth transition to using these dental appliances.
Wear them early
Having foreign appliances in your mouth as you go to sleep can be quite uncomfortable. Most people may take a while before falling asleep, and this can disrupt their quality of sleep. So consider wearing the night guards at least an hour or two before going to bed or even after coming home from work. Prolonged exposure will help you get used to the odd feeling in your mouth and the pressure caused by the oral appliances. By the time you go to bed, it will be a little easy to fall asleep without being distracted by the night guards.
Use night guards consistently
Getting used to wearing a mouth guard is not an easy process. If you wear them today and forget today and the day after, your mouth and jaw will not adjust to the devices. That's why you need to be consistent in using the mouth guards. Once you can fall asleep with the night guards comfortably, stick to the routine. You can place the night guards on your nightstand in the morning so that you won't forget to wear them as you go to bed in the evening.
Watch out for pain
The first few days of wearing night guards may be a little uncomfortable, but this doesn't mean that you should feel pain in your gums or jaw. So if you experience any unusual pain, soreness, or another form of discomfort that prevents you from falling asleep, visit your dentist. The night guards may be fitted incorrectly, and this can be the cause of the pain. Also, the discomfort could be due to jaw soreness as a result of the clenching.
Follow these tips so that you can quickly get used to wearing night guards and get relief from the symptoms of tooth grinding and jaw clenching. Contact a local dental clinic to get more information.
