Posted on

Store Bought Nightguards vs Custom Made Nightguards

nightguard

 

If you have a case of bruxism, or you grind your teeth at night while sleeping or clench your jaw subconsciously, your dentist may recommend that you wear a nightguard. At the very least, wearing a nightguard can help mitigate the damage of the constant grinding and clenching does to your teeth. However, this creates another dilemma for you, in which you have to choose between the cheaper store bought nightguard, and a custom made nightguard.

Store Bought Vs Custom Made

The constant grinding and clenching can do some pretty serious damage to your teeth. If left unchecked, it can cause cracks and fractures, which will require root canals, crowns, and bridges, among others, all of which are relatively expensive – and often painful – dental treatments.

Regardless of whether you bought store bought or custom made mouth guards, both do their jobs well enough as far as protecting your teeth goes.

The question now then is which of the two is more reliable and more comfortable to wear.

Why Custom Made Mouth Guards Are Worth It

A custom made nightguard costs roughly ten or so times more than a store bought one. However, even with the added premium, they are still well worth the cost.

The reason? Comfort, fit, and reliability of the materials used.

Store bought nightguards, while durable and do well enough to stop teeth from grinding against each other, aren’t exactly very comfortable to wear. Although this style of mouthguard uses thin materials to make it more suitable for use at night, they’re still far too thick to not interfere with the quality of your sleep.

They’re also made out of a type of plastic that you bite into to form the shape. You can only imagine just how “comfortable” wearing one will be like.

On the other hand, custom made nightguards are in a laboratory using an actual mold of your teeth. The fact that it’s customized alone means that the fit and comfort of custom made mouth guards are so much better.

The customization also goes further, though. The dentist can also recommend making the nightguards thicker in case your bruxism is worse compared to others. They can also make it thinner as well, in case your case isn’t as severe.

Lastly, custom made nightguards help relieve jaw strain and promote better jaw muscle positioning that helps minimize teeth clenching and grinding throughout the day when you’re awake.

Of course, they are far more expensive. More so when you consider that dental insurance providers usually do not cover the costs. However, when you consider all of its advantages, it’s clear that custom made nightguards are the better option.

Speaking of bruxism, make sure that you consider other bruxism treatment options as well.  Minimizing stress, changing your diet or medication, and fixing alignment issues with your teeth have all been proven to help with bruxism.

Make sure that you speak with Dr. Yankowskas about all the possible treatment options for your bruxism.  Call for an appointment today at 978-649-7773 or visit www.tyngsborocosmeticdentist.com.

 

 

Posted on

How To Cure Bad Breath | Tyngsboro Dentist

bad breath

Nobody wants to get in an embarrassing situation where someone points out that they have bad breath. But, most of us will inevitably go through that at some point.

To understand how to prevent and cure bad breath, it’s important to understand what causes it first.

What Causes Bad Breath

Whenever we eat, food particles and debris often get trapped in between teeth and along the gum line. Brushing your teeth and flossing helps take care of this. But, if you don’t brush your teeth after a meal, the trapped food becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. This is what then causes bad breath.

The food you eat is also another common cause of bad breath. Garlic, onions, and alcohol are notorious for their strong odor. When you eat or drink either of the three, your body ends up absorbing them, eventually causing you to breathe the foul odor through your lungs.

In rare cases, bad breath can also be a symptom of a serious illness like liver failure, kidney disease, or even diabetes.

Curing Bad Breath

There are five things you can do to cure and prevent bad breath, and these are:

  • Brush and floss your teeth regularly. Dentists recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing them at least once. However, if you can brush your teeth every after a big meal, then all the better. Regularly brushing and flossing your teeth should remove and take care of all the food and bacteria trapped in between your teeth and gum line.
  • Don’t forget to clean your cheeks and tongue. Your cheeks and tongue can also host bacteria and be the cause of your bad breath. Always use the tongue scraper on your toothbrush to clean them whenever you brush your teeth.
  • Drink lots and lots of water. Have you ever noticed how foul your breath smells in the morning when you wake up? “Morning breath” is actually the result of, among many other things, there not being enough saliva in your mouth. However, your mouth can dry up at any time of the day. And, without saliva, your mouth is unable to clean itself and wash away food particles, which causes bad breath. You can help prevent this by stimulating saliva production throughout the day by keeping yourself hydrated.
  • Be mindful of what you eat. Garlic, onions, and alcohol are just a few of the many types of food that causes bad breath. Your diet too can also cause your breath to smell. In particular, high protein and low carb diets have been known to cause bad breath.
  • Visit your dentist often. Don’t be one of those people who visit their dentist only when they’re having oral problems. Do your teeth and gums a favor and actually pay your dentist a visit every three to six months or so for regular checkups and cleanings. Doing so not only helps keep your mouth clean and healthy, but it also helps you stay on top of any oral complications you might have.

If someone points out you have bad breath, don’t worry. Instead, just smile, say thank you, and follow the tips above.  Remember, it’s just a bad breath, not a bad life!

If you feel your bad breath is caused from a larger issue such as gum disease or tooth decay or if it’s becoming a chronic problem, call Tyngsboro Dentist Dr. James Yankowskas at 978-649-7773. Also, visit our website at tyngsborocosmeticdentist.com.