Night Guards in Midland, MI

Grinding teeth at night, also known as bruxism, is an everyday issue that many men and women have — some without even knowing. The most visible indicator is a deterioration of the surface of the teeth, but nocturnal bruxism can also cause tooth pain, headaches, and inflammation, plus discomfort in your neck and jaw. To protect your mouth from these effects of teeth grinding, dentist Dr. Edward Knight offers custom night guards that help defend and protect your teeth while you sleep. Custom night guards are made with high-grade materials that fit comfortably and help improve the quality of your sleep by reducing teeth grinding and jaw clenching. To learn more about custom night guards at Knight Dental Care, schedule an appointment at our Midland, MI office.

A night guard custom made for you by Dr. Knight offers a number of great benefits to both protect your teeth and improve your health, including:

• Preventing tooth damage and wear
• Improving sleep
• Lessening risks for TMD and TMJ
• Reducing jaw and neck pain
• Moderating bruxism headaches
• Diminishing tooth sensitivity

If you wake up in the morning with a headache, tightness or pain in your jaw, and facial swelling, it's a good indication that you've been grinding your teeth while you sleep. Other indicators are loose teeth and/or fillings, chipped enamel on the top of your back teeth, a receding gumline, and tooth sensitivity. Grinding and clenching at night are often caused by stress but could also be the result of misaligned teeth, allergies, a sleep disorder, or temporomandibular joint disorder (called TMD). When Dr. Knight makes your bruxism diagnosis, he will also get to the root cause of the problem so that your night guard therapy can be coupled with additional treatment(s) for even better results.

After Dr. Knight makes your bruxism diagnosis, he will take oral impressions and digital x-rays of your mouth to create your custom night guard. He will send your information to the dental laboratory where your specialized night guard will be crafted out of high-quality materials. When your night guard is sent back to our office, we will have you come in for a fitting. Dr. Knight may make small adjustments so your night guard fits properly and comfortably. You will also be given instructions on how to properly care for your night guard so it lasts a long time.

Is wearing a night guard bad for your teeth?

Wearing a night guard custom-made for you by Dr. Knight isn’t bad for your teeth. In fact, it can help prevent damage to your teeth and gum recession. However, wearing an over-the-counter night guard or sports mouth guard that doesn’t fit perfectly in your mouth can cause teeth to shift, cause tooth pain, and/or promote the growth of bacteria along the gum line.

Can night guards cause cavities?

You only have a risk for your night guard causing cavities if you don’t properly clean it, which allows bacteria to grow on it.

How do I properly care for my night guard?

• Rinse after wearing
• Brush with a toothbrush (no toothpaste is necessary)
• Lay your night guard out and allow it to completely dry
• Store in its case
• Deep clean once a month with nonabrasive denture cleaner or a mixture of white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide

Night guards are a safe option to diminish the sleepless nights that result from the unpleasant symptoms of jaw clenching and teeth grinding. Customized night guards from Knight Dental Care can even benefit the overall health of your mouth and reduce future complications. If you think that this might be the remedy for you or you are interested in learning more, call our office in Midland, MI to set up a consultation with cosmetic dentist Dr. Knight. Our friendly staff can also answer any questions you have about cost, financing, and insurance for a night guard.