Dental Guards for Sleep: Do They Really Work?

Teeth grinding can cause wear on the teeth as well as jaw pain, headaches and interrupted sleep. A dental guard may help, but experts (and users) debate their usefulness.

Function

• A dental guard is a hard acrylic or plastic appliance that covers the teeth to minimize grinding during sleep. Your dentist can make one that is custom-fit, or you can buy boil-and-wear guards at a drugstore.

Can It Help?

• If your sleep issue is caused by teeth grinding, see your dentist. He can diagnose the condition and inform you of your options. If the dentist feels a night guard will help, follow his instructions. If possible, get a custom-fit model.

Considerations

• Dental guards do protect the teeth from wear, but do not always stop grinding itself--or the jaw pain, headaches, and joint tenderness that can be other symptoms of grinding, according to MayoClinic.com. Also, let your dentist know if you have other sleep disorders, since a night guard can worsen some problems, such as sleep apnea.