Dental Night Guard Info You Need to Know -- Ignore It at Your Peril

Secrets to Getting The Best Mouth Guard

To View The Only Truly Complete Mouth Guard Review on The Internet, Click Here.

I am David Spainhower, D.D.S., a TMJ dentist although I do general dentistry as well and have created this dental night guard site (that's a picture of me in the picture in the header).

Being a TMJ dentist, I believe I can offer you a lot of info about TMJ or TMD (Temporomandibular joint disorder), clicking jaw, jaw popping, bruxism or a grinding teeth in sleep problem, and of course, dental night guard products.

Night guard products are increasingly popular and rightly so.

They can help relieve muscle tightness, jaw popping, jaw clicking and generalized tooth sensitivity caused by night time teeth grinding; a mouth guard can also resolve TMJ problems too.

So, if you are bewildered and bedeviled by questions as to what is a dental night guard, why you may need it, if it can help teeth grinding, and if it is for you, this page (and site) can help you.

Some Quick Basics Regarding Dental Night Guards

A dental night guard is a horseshoe-shaped, retainer-like, plastic appliance with shallow borders that can be worn on either your top or your bottom arch.

It is specifically designed to protect your teeth from the pressure of clenching and grinding by providing a protective cushion between the upper and lower teeth. A night guard is adjusted to fit your bite evenly and smoothly.

A night guard can be placed on either the top or bottom; it can be worn on either the upper or the lower arch.

A dental mouth guard can help relieve muscle tightness and generalized tooth sensitivity caused by nighttime teeth grinding in addition to TMJ symptoms.

A dental night guard is made of exactly the same material dentists/orthodontists like myself use to prepare their devices for patients with bruxism.

(For a non-biased review of the most popular night guards available on the market, go to my website's review page here.)

In a very fundamental way, a night guard could be the solution that puts an end to the pain and damage. If you have a teeth grinding problem, the mouth guard can help reduce problems associated with teeth grinding if you wear it every night.

Some people may eventually stop grinding their teeth over time and then the device won’t be needed.

It can help reduce clenching, grinding, and TMJ problems by helping to relax the muscles in the jaw.

To maintain the device, it should be cleaned every time it's used by brushing it with toothpaste and rinsing completely. There is one tool that helps fight night time teeth grinding -- using a night guard every time you sleep.

SIDEBAR -- Get FREE TMJ Exercise Videos & TMJ Ebook Written by a Dentist

If you need a good mouth guard for grinding teeth or TMJ , I strongly recommend you check out a review of nightguards from a TMJ dentist -- me. You can see my reviews of the various mouth guards for grinding teeth (and TMJ night guard problems too).

AND...if you go to my review page, you can get a totally FREE ebook that is entitled "Truth About Mouthguards."

Oh, and also, you can receive free TMJ exercise videos too.

To get the free videos and ebook, click here and go about halfway down the review page.

If you think the trouble or expense of a dental mouth guard isn't worth it, or you aren't even entirely sure it's tooth-grinding behind what seem to be increasingly shorter teeth, headaches, jaw pain and a perturbed sleep partner, it's probably time to visit your dentist.

Based on the amount of damage you may have already done and the symptoms you describe, your dentist can determine whether a night mouth guard is right for you or not.

Night Guards & TMJ

As alluded earlier, TMJ might be the reason why you are considering a custom mouth guard. Let's talk about it briefly.

TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is a chronic pain disorder. TMJ is a disorder of the temporomandibular, or jaw joint. TMJ is used throughout the day to move the jaw, especially in biting and chewing, talking, and yawning. TMJ is a ball-and-socket joint, just like the hip or shoulder.

Lastly, TMJ is multifactorial and can be caused by problems within or outside of the joint capsule.

Symptoms are often mistaken for migraine headache, sinus trouble, ear infection, or toothache. Treatment may involve a series of steps.

Treatment is conservative, as it is for myofascial pain syndrome, although arthroplasty or high condylectomy may be necessary.

Treatment may not be needed if this is the only symptom -- a TMJ mouth guard.

Treatment is easier to understand to help reduce problems associated with teeth grinding. Some people may eventually stop grinding their teeth overtime and the device won’t be needed thereafter.

You should look for a model that has a bite pad made of dense material. This type of dental mouth guard will provide more comfort and stability.

If you think the trouble or expense of a TMJ mouth guard isn't worth it, or you aren't even entirely sure it's tooth-grinding behind what seem to be increasingly shorter teeth, headaches, jaw pain and a perturbed sleep partner, it's probably time to visit your dentist to make sure.

Grinding Teeth, Bruxism and Mouth Guards

Some people may need a mouth guard due to a grinding teeth issue. Grinding one's teeth not only causes the problems discussed above but it can also wear down the enamel on the teeth. This can lead to bigger and more painful dental problems.

Many people are not even aware that they grind their teeth at night and wonder why they have such horrible headaches and neck and jaw pain.

Thus a good mouth guard may be required to solve this problem.

In fact, studies have shown that 1 out 10 people have issues with grinding and clenching their teeth during sleep. A dental guard is fitted for one's mouth or can be bought online from a few different models.

The guard is just then inserted into your mouth when you sleep and will help protect you from the grinding and clenching of your teeth. Speak with your health care provider and find out if these are right for you.

Want to know one excellent way to combat the bothersome habit of night time bruxism, or teeth grinding?

The cause of bruxism is not completely known, but many agree that stress and anxiety play a major role.

Stress reduction and anxiety management are methods used to treat bruxism and reduce the symptoms, but a dental mouth guard is the most commonly used treatment method.

So, it could be an option for you to consider.

Once your dental night guard is in place (if you opt for one), you can sleep soundly knowing that even if you do grind your teeth once you're asleep, your upper and lower teeth will no longer make contact.

To Read a Free, non-biased review by a dentist on the most popular night or mouthguards on the market today, please click here.

One Thing to Look For in a Dental Night Guard

Before you purchase a night guard, look for a guarantee -- a good guarantee that has some muscle behind it. Some don't guarantee their dental night guard for grinding teeth but for 30 days -- the minimum required by law.

You want ideally six months or more as that indicates a strong confidence by the manufacturer in the product.

Some even offer a 110% and even a 150 % guarantee as to the night guard. Those three conditions are ideal, in my opinion.

So, I strongly advise you look for that kind of guarantee. On my review page here, you can see a few do exist -- including my own TMJ mouth guard product that I personally commissioned to be made.

Regarding all of these night guards, I personally have researched and investigated each of these products so as to be as informed as possible for my patients regarding the product options out there. Let me experience and expertise work for you.

I've done the research so you don't have to. Of course, feel free to do your own.

150% 6-Month Guarantee

If you opt for a dental night guard, I give a 110% Guarantee on a particular product -- the RCM Double arch -- certifying it will reduce your jaw popping and clicking and jaw locking.

If you are considering a mouthguard for grinding teeth or for a TMJ issue, I give a 150% guarantee -- yes you read that right -- on my recommended SmartGuard night guard.

I certify that it can help to reduce TMJ jaw pain, tension headaches, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), reduce teeth clenching, and give you a better night sleep.

I personally guarantee it. I don't know what more I can say to emphasize that to put your mind at ease. The onus is on me to deliver and if you are not satisfied, you can get your money back.

In closing, I admit that the one I recommend was specifically designed by me to relieve the "how to stop teeth grinding in sleep" issue, but it has use for those with a TMJ problem as well.

So, if you would like an honest, to-the-point, non-biased TMJ Night Guard review of the most popular mouth guards from a TMJ dentist with over 18 years experience, check out my mouth guard review page at this site's review on dental night guard products.

I hope this dental night guard web page has been useful for you. I really do.

Yours in health,
David Spainhower, D.D.S.