subject: How To Buy A Night Mouth Guard [print this page] Have you ever had that feeling of throbbing tension in your jaw, which shoots up through your head? Maybe you have felt a feeling of tightness and locking in the sides of your mouth when you chew your meals.
If you have experienced these pains, chances are you are a sufferer of TMJ, a painful muscle condition which affects the muscles in the jaw, face, and head. This condition can cause not only discomfort in your jaw, teeth, and gums, but it can also cause severe headaches and migraines.
Those who have this condition also often grind their teeth in their sleep, as a result of too much tension and pain during the night. This can cause residual pain in the morning, and can also cause the breakdown and deterioration of your teeth and even bone.
If you normally grind your teeth while you sleep, then you should consider investing in a dental night guard. There are a few things you need to consider before buying one.
Some of these include material, fit, and bite pad. This article will give you a few tips for buying a dental night guard.
One of the first things to consider when buying a guard is the type of materials that they are made from. There are acrylic and plastic designs, which you can find at a dentist's office, or a medical supply store.
An acrylic night guard is made from material used to make dentures. This type of guard is less flexible, so they are more effective than plastic guards.
However, plastic pieces are more inexpensive, and can be more durable.
You can also buy a very cheap kind of pliable rubber version of a mouth guard at any grocery or drug store. All you have to do is stick them in hot water for a few moments, then bite down on it to permanently mold your teeth to fit in a customized way.
This is the least expensive and certainly the easiest option, though not necessarily the most effective. The most effective would probably come from your dentist or TMJ therapist directly, who will take a professional mold of your mouth and send it away to a lab to be expertly designed for you.
This tends to be a little more expensive, but can be well worth the price. They last longer, and are more comfortable for your jaw.
One of the next things to consider when buying a dental night guard is its fit in your mouth. When buying a guard off the shelf, you will have to choose one based on your height.
If you are under 5'6", then you will likely need to buy a small dental night guard. Medium models are designed for men under 5'8" and large designs are for men taller than 5'8".
You should know that a dental night guard bought off the shelf can be an uncomfortable investment. Therefore, you may want to consider buying a guard that is custom fitted by your dentist.
However, this option will require a long wait. While your model is made in the lab, it can take weeks before it is shipped to your doctor's office, at which point you will probably need to come in and make some minor adjustments.
One of the next things to look for when buying a dental night guard is a front band. Some guards will loosen up at the front when you bite down in the back.
Therefore, you should look for a dental night guard that has a band at the front that will help prevent this problem. One of the final things to think about when buying a dental night guard is the bite pad.
You should look for a model that has a bite pad made of dense material. This type of dental night guard will provide more comfort and stability.
It will also last longer. In summary, acrylic designs are more effective but cost more than guards made from plastic.
If you want a comfortable dental night guard, then you should look for one that is custom-made for you by your dentist. It will be well worth the pain and discomfort that comes from night after night and year after year of TMJ pain.
