Mouthguards for Better Sleep and TMJ Alignment

Most people like to think that mouthguards are only designed for football, boxing, basketball and other tough sports, but mouthguards are also important to protect yourself when you’re not competing.  

While athletic guards are vital to athletes during competition, the real gains happen during rest and recovery. Proper sleep has been shown to improve athletic performance, reaction time, and focus. Inadequate sleep doesn’t just make you tired the next day - it can impact on our immune function, hormone production, and even metabolism.  

Anyone can wear a Recovery Sleep Guard, as they’re not just made for athletes.  Our affordable subscription service (only $69.95 every 4 months) is a fraction of the price that you'll pay at a Dentist, and can protect your smile too. The Academy of General Dentistry says as many as 1 in 3 adults will suffer from bruxism, which can range from mild to severe.  According to The Sleep Foundation, a study showed that “more than a third of parents report symptoms of bruxism in their children” proving that any age or person may experience bruxism. 

What is Bruxism? 

Bruxism is the involuntary grinding of teeth, typically while sleeping.  Some common signs or symptoms may be headaches, ear aches, jaw pain, jaw joint disorders and damaged teeth.  

There are many speculations as to what causes bruxism, and among the contributing factors are stress, anxiety, excessive caffeine, or certain sleep disorders.  Another possible cause of bruxism can be the result of the side effects of some medications. Medications such as Adderall, which is used to treat ADHD/ADD, can cause you to clench/ grind your teeth, especially when sleeping.   

At GuardLab, we can usually can detect when an athlete grinds their teeth, for example, worn down teeth over time may look flat or have cracks.  However, if you are seeing a dental professional on a regular basis, then you probably have been recommended a night guard already.  The question is – are you wearing it?  

The most common reason why you may not be wearing a night guard regularly is the lack of comfort. Comfort is vital for long-term consistent use of a night guard because a loose guard or a very bulky guard, can cause discomfort over time. The accuracy of a 3D Scan creates a perfect fit, which maximizes your comfort and prevents the guard from slipping or moving during your sleep.  

Protect those Pearly Whites, especially after investing in any cosmetic or orthodontic treatment.

There’s an added bonus to a Custom-Fit Recovery Guard as well, especially if you’ve recently completed any orthodontic or clear aligner treatments.  Our custom-fit Recovery Guard will not only protect your enamel but will also help prevent your teeth from shifting from their current position.  Aligner companies and dentists, typically charge $300+ for a night guard or for retainer replacements, but our affordable subscription service ($69.95) is a fraction of the price and can protect your smile too.

The GuardLab Recovery Guard is intended to prevent light grinding, so we use a high-quality dental grade material that is designed to be lightweight and soft along the surface of your teeth, with a durable acrylic on the outside to protect your enamel.  Our customers love our thinner, low-profile design and soft tapered edges that won’t irritate or touch your gums." 

Ways to alleviate Bruxism or TMJ issues 

If you feel like you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, then the most common solution is to wear a nighttime sleep guard to prevent your teeth from grinding and reducing the side effects of such activity. 

Our Recovery Guards can be made from any impressions that we have on file for you, and it will have an impeccable and snug fit like all of our mouthguards do. 

If you wake up and continue to have jaw joint issues, often described as clicking or popping of the Temporal Mandibular Joint (TMJ), then you may want to try our ARC-PRO Lower Performance Guard during the day.  The neuromuscular cushion can help to stabilize the joint position and relieve pressure or tension.  

We recommend consulting with our Certified GuardLab Dentists about your TMJ issues while they are performing your 3D scan, and they can advise on the causes and best solutions for you. If you have any questions about our products or how to get measured, feel free to get in touch with us info@guardlab.com

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