If you've ever had the problem of clenching or grinding your teeth as you sleep, you're probably quite familiar with dental guards. They can terribly uncomfortable and inconvenient, often feeling as if you've a mouthful of plastic. However, a relatively recent development in the dental industry has brought about something called an adjustable night guard.
Identification
Adjustable night guards are basically dental guards that are adjustable or adaptable to a person's mouth. They're far less cumbersome than your standard "horseshoe-shaped" or form-fitting guards that fit along the entirety of your teeth. Unlike these bulky models, the adjustable night guard has two bite pads that are positioned between your back teeth on either side of your mouth and are connected by a thin strap that runs along your lower gum line. Each bite pad has four notches that allow you to adjust the guard to fit your mouth specifically.
Function
Usually, people who suffer from TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder), TMD (temporomandibular disorder), bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching) or a neuromuscular disorder of a similar kind can use an adjustable night guard to help alleviate some of the problems associated with these disorders, like chipping or cracking of the teeth, diminishing their surface enamel and even loosening a tooth. The presence of this guard will actually create a quarter to half an inch of space between your upper and lower teeth, preventing the potential of grinding or clenching.
Features
When you place the bite pads between the teeth on either side of the mouth, they will stay in place by what is called "natural tissue retention," as your lower lip will hold the front strap in place and your cheeks and tongue will hold keep the bite pads secure. You don't need to bite down on the device. Actually, it is recommended that you avoid doing this -- not because the bite pads are unable to withstand the strain, but to do so would defeat the purpose of the guard.
Considerations
While these adjustable night guards can help a person with clenching and grinding, they alone are not the answer. Most people who use an adjustable night guard will have to give some attention to the "natural" positioning of their jaw, meaning they'll need to learn relax the muscles around their mouth. It can be difficult to convert this relaxation from wake to sleep, but this sort of transition isn't unheard of.
Benefits
Though the primary use of an adjustable night guard is to help a person with their grinding and clenching, the product does come with other benefits. Along with the better overall comfort you'll feel in your jaw and mouth, many people have noted an improvement in their nighttime breathing (this doesn't include snoring), a change in their sleeping posture and a reduction in tension along the back of the neck.
Tags: night guard, adjustable night guard, bite pads, adjustable night, adjustable night, grinding clenching, your mouth