3 Reasons to Wear a Biteguard | Southwest Family Dentistry

There are many different kinds of dental appliances that general dentists can use to treat a variety of conditions. A dental appliance is any type device that assists with the treatment of certain conditions. Dental appliances can be fixed, meaning that they are bonded inside the mouth or they can be removable.One commonly used dental appliance prescribed by dentists is a dental bite guard. A dental bite guard, also known as a mouthguard or night guard, is a removable dental appliance intended to protect the teeth and maintain proper jaw position. Although they can vary in structure, most dental bite guards will cover an entire upper or lower arch of teeth. There are three reasons your general dentist may have you wear a bite guard, including:

Teeth Grinding

Bruxism is a behavior that is usually caused by stress and is characterized by grinding the teeth from side to side or clenching them together. Both these behaviors can occur while awake, but often occur during the night while you sleep. People who grind or clench their teeth while sleeping may wake up with headaches, experience jaw pain or soreness, and may not feel rested. Additionally, people with bruxism are often unaware that they have this condition.

During your routine dental exam, if your dentist notices certain wear patterns to indicate that you are affected by bruxism, they may advise the use of a night guard. Night guards are a type of dental bite guard that are generally only worn at night. Their main purpose is to prevent additional strain on the jaw joint and to protect the teeth from becoming chipped or cracked from grinding or clenching.

Sports

Another common reason to wear a dental bite guard is if you play sports. Certain sports, especially those that require close contact, flying equipment, or frequent falls. Bite guards used for sports are often referred to as sports mouth guards. Sports mouth guards cover the teeth and gums in order to protect the front of the mouth from becoming injured during a sports mishap. Wearing a mouth guard while playing sports can reduce dental emergencies such as loose, cracked, chipped, or knocked out teeth, as well as soft tissue trauma.

Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is a medical condition where the muscles of the upper airway relax and obstruct the flow of oxygen. Unfortunately, many people are affected by sleep apnea. However, many people don’t consider a visit to their local dental office when they think about treating their sleep apnea. Using oral appliance therapy, your general dentist will custom fabricate a night guard that can reposition the jaw and reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with obstructive sleep apnea. When you wear this type of night guard, it moves the jaw slightly forward in order to maintain an open airway while sleeping.

If you grind or clench your teeth while you sleep, play high risk sports, or have obstructive sleep apnea, then your general dentist will likely recommend some form of dental bite guard. Bite guards for grinding, sports, and sleep apnea are all removable dental appliances that are used to alleviate symptoms or to prevent damage to the teeth. You only get one smile, therefore you want to protect it.

Dr. John Batlle attended the UF College of Dentistry where he received his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in 1983. After graduating, he worked for the State of Florida and received his commission in the Navy Reserve Dental Corps. He was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 2002 where he served as the dentist for Detainee Operations and Navy Hospital GTMO. He recently retired from the U.S. Navy Reserve after 26 years of service.