Frequently Asked Questions About Night Guards—And Their Answers 

Stress harms your body in more ways than one. When it comes to your mouth, stress and strain during the day can cause teeth grinding at night, which is an invisible but dangerous condition. Because its causes are far-reaching, the best way to solve this is by taking a holistic approach alongside a biological dentist in South Florida.

Understanding dental grinding in detail and how your daily actions impact your oral health can help you work toward protecting your smile while improving your overall health.

What Are Night Guards?

Night guards are dental devices worn over the teeth to protect against the effects of bruxism, or teeth grinding, during sleep. They act as a cushion, fitting between your two arches of teeth and serving as a protective barrier. This helps minimize dental damage and alleviate jaw strain.

How Long Does a Nightguard Last?

Night guards are highly durable, lasting anywhere from 6 months to 3 years with proper care. This involves cleaning your night guard occasionally to remove any plaque buildup and storing it safely.

Often, patients only need a nightguard replacement after misplacing or losing them. So, keep them stored in their personalized case instead of wrapping them in a napkin that can be easily thrown out by accident.

What Are Nightguards Made Of?

Nightguards can be made of various materials, depending on the severity of your bruxism and comfort levels.

• Acrylic nightguards are very strong and ideal for severe grinders or TMJ patients. However, they are bulkier and may feel rigid at first.
• Thermoplastic nightguards are softer and more flexible than hard guards, but are less durable and wear down faster. Therefore, they are recommended for patients with mild bruxism only.
• Dual-laminate nightguards have a soft inner layer and a hard acrylic outer shell. They’re the perfect balance of strength and comfort. However, they can delaminate over time.
• Nylon nightguards are made with medical-grade nylon polymers. These are used when extra flexibility, durability, or hypoallergenic properties are needed.

At Dental Healing Arts, we use nylon because it’s a safe, biocompatible, and very durable option. Nylon is flexible yet resistant to cracking or breaking, ensuring a more comfortable, lightweight guard than bulkier acrylic guards.

Moreover, they’re BPA-free and hypoallergenic, ideal for sensitive or allergic patients.

Why Is It Important to Protect Your Teeth Against Bruxism?

Teeth grinding is a silent condition, but it can eventually cause significant dental damage, jaw dysfunction, and overall health issues.

When grinding down food, you normally exert around 70–150 pounds per square inch (psi) of force in the molar region. When grinding, the force can reach 250–600 psi, with some reports over 1,000 psi. Your teeth are not made to resist this amount of force.

Over time, grinding leads to flattened, chipped, or cracked teeth. This makes your teeth sensitive and more prone to decay. Grinding overworks the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and jaw muscles, resulting in jaw stiffness, soreness, or clicking/popping sounds.

Addressing grinding with a nightguard right away is key to preventing these issues.

What Is a Deprogrammer vs. a Nightguard?

While deprogrammers and nightguards are dental appliances worn in the mouth (usually at night), they serve different purposes and are designed differently.

A deprogrammer is a specialized dental appliance used primarily to help diagnose and treat problems related to the bite (occlusion) and jaw muscle tension.

It temporarily “shuts off” the brain’s habitual signals to the jaw muscles by removing tooth-to-tooth contact, essentially “deprogramming” the jaw’s learned position. This helps relax overactive jaw muscles and diagnose bite problems.

On the other hand, a nightguard keeps your teeth from touching to prevent grinding at night.

Are Night Guards Comfortable?

If this is your first time wearing a dental appliance, night guards can take some time to get used to. Often, patients report waking up in the morning and their nightguard lying useless on their pillow. This is normal.

Eventually, using them will become seamless. Materials like nylon are flexible, non-allergenic, and highly comfortable, meaning your night’s sleep won’t suffer from this extra layer of protection.

What Factors Can Lead to Teeth Grinding?

Grinding can be caused by a variety of factors, both physical and psychological. Some key factors that can lead to grinding include:

• ‍Stress and Anxiety: Emotional stress is one of the most common causes of teeth grinding. People often clench or grind their teeth in response to anxiety, frustration, anger, or high pressure—sometimes without realizing it.
• ‍Sleep Disorders: Bruxism is often associated with sleep-related conditions, like obstructive sleep apnea or snoring. It’s believed that grinding can be the body’s reflexive way of reopening a collapsed airway or reacting to poor sleep quality.
• ‍Bite Problems: If your teeth don’t fit together properly when you close your mouth (called malocclusion), it can lead to grinding or clenching as your jaw tries to find a more comfortable position.

How Can I Combat Teeth Grinding Besides Wearing Night Guards?

While nightguards are one of the most common tools for protecting your teeth from the damage caused by grinding, they don’t stop the grinding behavior. Some proven strategies for combating the causes of bruxism include:

• ‍Manage Stress and Anxiety: Stress is one of the most common causes of teeth grinding, especially during theday. Managing it can help significantly. We recommend mindfulness meditation or deep breathing to regulate tension throughout the day and calm the nervous system.
• ‍Improve Sleep Quality: If you're grinding your teeth at night (sleep bruxism), improving sleep quality and routine can help. Avoid screens 1–2 hours before bed and limit caffeine, alcohol, and large meals in the evening. Moreover, stick to a consistent sleep schedule and don’t stay up until late.
• ‍Address Bite Issues or Misalignment: Sometimes, grinding is your jaw’s attempt to self-correct an uncomfortable bite. See a dentist to evaluate if your bite is misaligned!

Protect Your Smile from Bruxism with a Biological Dentist in South Florida

Teeth grinding is usually caused by a combination of factors—not just one. Therefore, the solution to combat it should be integrative and holistic, going beyond your oral health by understanding how stress affects your overall body. Nightguards won’t be a solution if the material causes allergic reactions or discomfort.

At Dental Healing Arts, we begin by conducting a thorough evaluation to help us understand what’s making you grind your teeth at night. Once we determine the root cause, we will work together to determine the best treatment. Don’t let stress harm your smile further. Contact us today for more information!