Can’t Close Mouth with Night Guard? Here’s What You Need to Know

 

Are you finding yourself waking up in the morning with a toothache, jaw ache, a headache, or overly sensitive or even damaged teeth, and you aren’t sure why that is? If so, it could be down to bruxism.

Bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding as some may know it, is a common condition affecting as many as 8% of all adults in Australia. While not especially serious, bruxism can cause a lot of pain and discomfort and can make life unpleasant for those affected. This is why night guards are so popular.

Night guards are designed to be worn at night to help with bruxism and all manner of other similar dental issues, and as effective as they are, some people have found that wearing them at night can be difficult.

Can’t close my mouth with the night guard in place? No problem, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a better look at night guards and what you can do if you are struggling to close your mouth at night while wearing one.

What is a night guard?

A night guard is a simple dental device that is similar to a retainer. Made from a fairly rigid material, it is designed to fit over the teeth and hold them in place so as to prevent bruxism (teeth grinding).

Nightguards are designed to be worn at night, in bed, and can be worn on the upper teeth, or in some cases, the lower teeth as well.

Custom-made for each patient by moulds taken off the teeth, night guards are designed to fit snugly and securely over the teeth for maximum comfort and protection.

Can’t close mouth with night guard – what does it mean?

If you struggle to close your mouth when wearing a night guard, this could be down to any number of reasons. For example, if you wear a night guard in bed at night and you can’t close your mouth, this could be down to it not fitting correctly.

A night guard must fit your mouth and teeth perfectly. If you find that you’re having to re-adjust the guard a lot, or if you find that it falls out a lot, this should set alarm bells ringing as it would indicate that the mouthguard doesn’t fit properly.

Should I be able to close my mouth when wearing a mouthguard?

When wearing a night guard, you absolutely must ensure that you are able to close your mouth properly.

If the night guard is uncomfortable or restrictive, this will disrupt your sleep and as you know, a lack of sleep is no good for anybody.

Fitting a night guard

A night guard is fitted by having your dentist take impressions of your upper and lower teeth. These impressions are then sent to the lab where a custom-made night guard is made based upon these impressions to ensure that it fits your mouth perfectly.

When the night guard is first put on, it will of course feel tight and a little unusual but don’t worry, this is normal. As time passes by, you’ll soon get used to how the night guard feels in bed until you eventually can sleep without even knowing it’s there.

Should my night guard feel tight?

Yes.

A night guard needs to feel tight as this ensures that it fits over the teeth without moving. It is important to know the difference between tight, and painful however.

If your night guard is too tight and painful, it will need to be altered or re-made.

What to do if I can’t close my mouth with a night guard?

If you can’t close your mouth with a night guard in at night it’s time to consider a custom made night guard. Go ahead and get in touch with Dental Armour and have them create a custom made night guard for you.

Dental Armour’s night guards are built to spec, they’re customised for you, they’re comfortable, and they provide protection for your teeth and mouth as you sleep.

If you need a night guard that stays in place and doesn’t disrupt your sleeping routine, get in touch with the expert team at Dental Armour today.