Using a mouth guard for sleeping, tooth pain, and grinding teeth

There are various reasons why a patient might be advised to use a dental night guard or a mouth guard. They include:

• High-impact and high-contact sports. If you participate in sports such as hockey, lacrosse, or football that involve a lot of physical contact and potential for injury, wearing a mouth guard can protect you from broken teeth and other facial trauma.
• Grinding your teeth at night. Teeth grinding (bruxism) can cause serious damage to the enamel on your teeth, leading to jaw and tooth pain in the morning. A mouth guard, or night guard, helps prevent damage by creating a barrier between your upper and lower teeth and reducing the severity of grinding.
• Alleviating TMJ symptoms. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the jawbone to the skull. This joint can become misaligned due to injury, dental misalignment, or bruxism, which can cause pain and discomfort. Wearing a night guard can help to reposition the jaw and reduce the symptoms of TMJ disorder.
• Protecting teeth undergoing orthodontic treatment. If you wear braces, your dentist may recommend using a mouth guard to protect your teeth while playing sports or at night. This will help to prevent injury or damage to the braces and teeth due to grinding or contact with other hard objects.