Protect your Veneers and Teeth Against Bruxism with a Nightguard
Veneers are a popular dental treatment for minor dental imperfections like chips, cracks, stains, gaps, and misalignments. A veneer isa thin, custom-made coatingor shell bonded to a tooth’s front surface to enhance its color, shape, and alignment. This provides a more natural and aesthetically appealing smile.
While veneers are made from strong and durable materials like porcelain, they aren’t immune to damage. Like natural teeth, veneers can chip, crack, or break under great pressure, especially from bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching). If you have bruxism, your dentist can recommend a nightguard to protect your veneers and teeth while sleeping.
In this article, let’s discuss more about veneers and bruxism and how a nightguard can protect your smile while sleeping.
What is Bruxism?
Bruxism is an involuntary habit of clenching your jaw, grinding your teeth, or clenching. While it can happen when awake (awake bruxism), it’s more common at night when sleeping ( sleep or nocturnal bruxism). Bruxism is often associated with stress, misaligned bite, excessive alcohol or caffeine intake, and sleep disorders like snoring and sleep apnea.
How Bruxism Affects Veneers
Veneers are typically made from composite resin and porcelain materials, which are relatively durable and highly resistant to stains. While they can easily withstand normal chewing and biting forces, excessive pressure from teeth grinding or clenching can cause them to chip, crack, or even dislodge. This leaves your tooth unprotected and susceptible to fractures and infections. You can ensure better sleep protection for veneers with a nightguard.
Using a Night Guard to Protect Veneers and Teeth
A night guard, occlusal splint, or bite guard is an oral device that fits over the teeth. The guard acts as a protective barrier between the upper and lower teeth. Below are the key benefits of using a nightguard with veneers:
Prevents direct tooth-tooth grinding
A nightguard prevents the upper and lower teeth from grinding against each other directly, protecting your veneers and teeth from unnecessary stress that can lead to veneer chipping and enamel damage.
Cushions against grinding forces
A night guard also acts as a shock absorber, absorbing the excessive forces of teeth grinding and distributing them evenly. This prevents excessive pressure on your teeth and veneers, preventing potential damages like chips and cracks.
Positions the jaw properly
A night guard holds your jaw in the right position and prevents it from moving during sleep, preventing airway obstruction that can cause bruxism.
Best Practices for a Night Guard
To ensure the best use of your night guard to protect your veneers and teeth during sleep, consider the following tips:
Get a custom-made nightguard for veneer protection
While you can get cheaper ready-made nightguards from a store without any prescription, these guards dint always provide the best protection and fit. However, a custom night guard is made from impressions of your mouth structure, offering maximum fit and protection for your veneers and teeth. Thus, they are the best nightguards for preserving veneers and other dental restorations.
Follow your dentist’s instructions for proper insertion and removal
Use gentle pressure to guide the night guard over your teeth without forcing it, which can lead to damage. Remove them gently and carefully to prevent damage to the guard, veneers, or teeth.
Maintain proper hygiene
Always keep your nightguard, veneers, teeth, and mouth clean. Before wearing the nightguard, brush and floss your teeth and veneers and rinse the mouth guard. After removing the guard in the morning, rinse it with cold water and brush it gently to remove any plaque or bacteria that may have buildup during the night.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste
Use a soft brush and non-abrasive toothpaste to clean your teeth, veneers, and nightguard to prevent any scratching or damage. Do not use hot water, as it can cause the guard to warp.
Store your nightguard properly
After cleaning your nightguard, store it in a clean, cool, dry case to protect it from damage, warping, or distortion.
Do not chew with the guard
Eating or chewing with the guard can cause it to wear down or distort, making it less efficient and ill-fitting. This can make your teeth and veneers prone to damage.
Wear the nightguard constantly
Make the nightguard a part of your bedtime routine to continually protect your veneers and teeth from potential damage caused by bruxism.
Regularly inspect or replace your nightguard
Periodically check your guard for signs of damage or wear. Consult your dentist for replacement if your night guard is ill-fitting, cracked, chipped, or worn out. Always bring your guard to the dentist during routine dental checkups and cleanings.
Get a Night Guard in Lexington, MA
Are you interested in a custom night guard to protect your teeth and veneers against bruxism? Or perhaps you’re interested in dental veneers in Lexington, MA? Contact Lexington Dental Group to book your dentist consultation today.