Do you wake up every morning with headaches, feeling just as exhausted as you were when you went to bed? Do you grind your teeth when asleep? Has your spouse ever moved to the room next door because of your heavy snoring, gasping and choking every night? If so, you have obstructive sleep apnea– a condition where the upper air passage closes off and interrupts your breathing.

This deprives you of enough oxygen until you wake up and staring breathing again. Fortunately, you are not alone, you are in the same pool with more than 18 million Americans. It does not end there. There is a solution; a dental night guard. So, just how do you go about buying a good dental night guard? What do you take into consideration? How much should you spend on one?

Choosing the best medical equipment supplier

It’s not enough to just buy your breathing device from any drug store. Breathing devices are not like over the counter drugs. You have to buy the best one in the market. The easiest way to do this is to buy your night guard from a reputable medical equipment supplier. The reasons are simple. Reputable medical equipment suppliers work closely with doctors. They always know what’s in demand and what’s not. They also know the best brands, so it should really be easy for you to get value for your money with a reputable medical equipment supplier.

Understanding how your mouth guard works

Research shows that most patients ditch their mouth guards after two or three months. That’s normal considering that it’s not that easy to keep up with a device in your mouth every night. It should however be noted that patients who ditch their dental night guards after short time, rarely use the devices appropriately. They therefore see no big difference having or not having the device. To avoid all these, ask your doctor or even medical supplier how to effectively use your device.

Customized dental night guards

This mostly applies to children. It is very hard for a kid to put up with something he or she does not like. Sometimes, it’s actually impossible. That is why your doctor is likely to recommend a custom dental night guard for your child.

There really isn’t that much of a difference between normal and customized dental night guards, but it helps to give your child what will keep him or her happy. It could be something as trivial as the color of the night guard, so you really have nothing to lose but everything to gain. Go for a sleep apnea mouth guard that is:

• Comfortable
• Durable
• Fitting

Buying the right device

Your doctor will tell you that apneic patients have different breathing problems. There are those who breathe through their noses, while there are those who do it through their mouths. This means that they both need different night guards designed to cater for their specific needs. It also means that you cannot use a mouth guard meant for an apneic patient with complications breathing through his or her nose. Your doctor should tell you more about the kind of mouth guard you need and advise you where to buy it or have one customized for your needs.

In conclusion

Sleep apnea is not a death sentence. With a good dental night guard, you should be fine. The only problem could be finding the right device since the available dental night guard types can be confusing for a layman. Your doctor should help you choose the right one and save you from the agony of shopping for what you know nothing about. A good dental night guard cost is also affordable, so have no worries at all. Buy it and wear it with a smile.

You must have heard before from your doctor how a good teeth grinding guard can reverse dire consequences of obstructive sleep apnea. That’s true. Very true – at least for those who religiously use the device. Its major downside is of course, learning how to put up with something you never thought you’d need. There are other disadvantages like dry nose or nasal congestion, but make no mistake about it. The advantages of any teeth grinding guard out there outweigh the disadvantages by far.

Heart Disease

Sleep apnea is directly linked to a number of life threatening heart disorders. It causes you to stop breathing well several times when you’re fast asleep. Such small pauses cause changes in your heart pressure which in turn cause changes in your blood oxygen levels, not once. Not twice, but several times. This puts a mammoth strain on your heart and puts it at a great risk of succumbing to heart failure. That explains why sleep apnea patients are more susceptible to heart attacks than their healthy counterparts.

These facts may seem scary to many. They are alarming. The difference is however between those who seek treatment and those who never seek treatment at all.  Various studies have in the past revealed that people with untreated sleep apnea record higher death rates from heart diseases than those with treated sleep apnea.  Save yourself from being part of such studies and use your teeth grinding guard as your doctor recommend. It may be a small device but it can save you from:

• Irregular heart beats
• Congestive heart failure
• Coronary artery disease

Stroke

Consistent use of your teeth grinding guard or sleep apnea mouth guard can significantly reduce your risk of stroke. Keep in mind that today, stroke is up there with cancer as one of the chief causes of long term disability and death. Its link with sleep apnea is simple. It comes about when there is rupture or blockage in one of the blood vessels that lead to the brain. Apneic people are two to four times more likely to sufferer from stroke.

Diabetes

Using your teeth grinding mouth guard to treat sleep apnea can improve your insulin sensitivity for the better. Sleep apnea is related to insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, which feature in type 2 diabetes. Untreated sleep apnea increases one’s risk of getting type 2 diabetes. Stay safe and wear your mouth guard for teeth grinding.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

People with both mild and chronic sleep apnea have a hard time concentrating and staying awake. They are 15 times more likely to get involved in a car crash. The same case applies to heavy machinery controllers who have sleep apnea.

Other Health Benefits

Using your teeth grinding mouth guard to fight sleep apnea can improve your life. that’s a proven fact. That’s not all. You stand to benefit from the device with health benefits like:

• Daytime alertness
• Concentration
• Emotional stability

Costs and Expenses

Using your night guard teeth grinding mouth guard to treat sleep disorders is cheap compared to other devices like CPAP. Remember that you need to take good care of your device to avoid buying a new one often. Remember too to treat the condition on time so as to avoid more costs associated with sophisticated devices and treatment options characteristic of severe sleep apnea.

Conclusion

Nothing should stand between you and your sleep. Be it teeth grinding, heavy snoring or sleep apnea, there is always a way out. More often than note, the way out comes in the shape of a night guard. Don’t be afraid. Go for it!

Teeth grinding or bruxism has for a long time been a silent yet crushing condition that equally plagues the young and the old at night. While most people consider it as normal, its serious effects such as jaw disorder, gum problems and damaged teeth can attest that indeed, the condition is way beyond normal. As such, it needs serious attention. That is where a dental mouth guard comes into the picture.

Different Types of Mouth Guards

There are ready made over the counter dental mouth guards which are extremely common, and prescription or made to order dental mouth guards. Over the counter mouth guards are made out of thermoplastic or plastic material. That explains why they can be effortlessly molded once properly heated in boiling water.

Because they are often mass produced for general use, they do not cost much. The concept behind them is simple. They work by comfortably holding your teeth in static position throughout the night as you sleep. This means that the device leaves your facial muscles relaxed and your teeth at a zero risk of gnashing.

The other type, the prescribed dental mouth guard, is a little bit complicated. It is quite pricy and demands some ample time to be made. The reason is simple. The dental mouth guard must be intricately molded to match specific needs of a specific patient. As a matter of fact, only a handful of experts are professionally trained and licensed to produce them.

A dental mouth specialist first takes time to craft a plaster cast of his patient’s teeth from which the dental mouth guard is carefully patterned. The whole process takes place in a dental lab. That means there is no need for additional boiling or molding once the expert is done with crafting the plaster cast. Prescription mouth guards are used by apneic patients with braces or hard to fit mouth.

How Do They Work?

Unlike what most people think, dental mouth guard for sleep apnea cannot cure or get rid of teeth grinding now matter how consistent they are worn. Teeth grinding is simply a mind thing. Your mind basically compels your facial muscles to move up and down as you sleep. A dental mouth guard for grinding teeth works in a way that when you bite on it, your teeth don’t touch each other. As such, grinding does not stop. It still happens as it would without the sleep apnea mouth guard. With its help however, grinding cannot proceed to full action.

What Causes Teeth Grinding?

The causes are well known:

• Anxiety

• Stress

• Dental conditions

From these causes alone, it is easy to conclude that treating teeth grinding is easy. After all, psychotherapy and stress management can come to one’s rescue. That is however, not the case at all. The treatment process is more or less like undergoing therapy. That means that it takes time. You must therefore be extremely patient with yourself.

Seek treatment as soon as you notice sleep apnea symptoms. This will help you to better understand your condition and how long it will take heal. Avoid trying hyped and unresearched alternative remedies. They will only jeopardize the healing process. If at all you should try any alternative treatment, consult your doctor. Unprescribed measures can easily turn out into a nightmare and cause you more harm than good. The only safe alternative treatment method is observing a healthy diet and keeping off habits that can worsen your condition. That includes smoking, excess alcohol consumption and use of sedatives before going to bed. Then remember that cleaning dental mouth guard is extremely important. Wash it daily with mild soap and avoid sharing it with others.

Your doctor just told you that you need to use a bite guard while you’re sleeping to keep obstructive sleep apnea at bay. If you are like most people who receive such news daily, you’ve got mixed feelings about it. You’re not thrilled at all. Truth is, you should be thrilled. At least there is a solution for your condition. What’s more, adjusting to your bite hard can make your sleep…and life much better especially if you have chronic sleep apnea. Here’s how to go about adjusting to the device and making peace with it:

• Focus on the health benefits

With sleep apnea, your body is simply in a constant tussle at night between falling asleep and breathing. Fortunately, breathing always pins down sleeping and wins at the expense of your much deserved sleep. This means that during the day, you’ll have to deal with daytime fatigue and sleepiness which can make life at work stressful. That is not all. In fact, it is just but a tip of the iceberg. Lack of adequate sleep always has an adverse effect on:

• Diabetes
• Ageing
• Blood pressure
• Obesity

The purpose of your bite guard is to take away the struggle or rather tussle between breathing and sleeping. That is why patients who use the device well report immediate symptom relief. Just like you, they may not like the device but they sure love the outcome. After all, who really wants to put up with abnormal heart rhythms when really a simple crib bite guard can solve the problem completely?

• Consider the device a gift to your bed partner

No one wants a strange bedfellow; one who can take the medal if the whole thing was a competition between him/her and a pig. The interruptions can be way overboard to drive you out of bed or even cause a rift in your relationship. Solve the problem in a loving, amicable way and consider buying a sleep apnea mouth guard for your partner.

• Learn More about the device

Think of it as your craft. You have to hone it and love it. It’s not enough for your doctor to hand you a dental bite guard and it’s manual. Ideally, insist on an expert demonstrating how to make the most use of your night bite guard. With so many varieties and models of bite guards, it is important to be certain you bought what your doctor recommended.

• Customize the device

Bite guards are not ‘one size fits all’ kind of devices. That is in fact why you should not share your bite guard with anyone else. Go for what fits you. Then remember to always upgrade your device. This means that you have to change it for a better one sometime. Like shoes and any other apparel in your wardrobe, they wear off after sometime. They become ineffective. You may have to spend more money on a new device but that’s fine.

It is much better then quarreling with your loved one over your sleep habits, which needless to say, you have no control over. It helps to go for a brand that cuts across the market as a quality brand with nothing but value for money to offer.

• Stick with it

It is not a cure. It’s just treatment. It only works effectively if you wear it.

Conclusion

Think not of your bite guard as an irritating tool you have to wear before going to bed. Its benefits outweigh the downsides by far. If anything, be grateful that you can after all, enjoy your sleep without people talking on your back on how strange you behave while asleep.

When it comes to sleep apnea treatment methods, a night mouth guard is up there with other methods that work. The reason is simple. For starters, the device is effective. Then there is the fact that apneic patients either have comfort issues with CPAP or just can’t use the device at all. This leaves them with other dental devices and the night mouth guard.

What Are They?

The name pretty much speaks for itself. There are different mouth guards, but the most common one is the MandibularAdvancement Device commonly referred to as MAD. It comes in a number of variations and greatly resembles a sports mouth guard. Then there is The Tongue Retaining Device or if you may, TRD. It comes with a splint that holds the tongue comfortably in place. Either device must be fitted by a doctor then followed up an early check up just to ensure that the device works well.

How Do They Work?

MAD works by forcing your lower jaw forward and slightly down. This keeps the air passage open at night and minimizes loud snoring. TRD on the other hand, works by keeping the tongue in an optimal position, leaving the air passage as open as possible.

What Are The Benefits?

A good night mouth guard comes with an array of advantages. The primary benefit is of course a significant reduction in apnea for patients with mild to moderate apnea. The devices also go a mile to improve the quality of one’s sleep and snoring frequencies. To get the best out of them, go for a custom night mouth guard.

Are There Any Downsides?

Like with any other treatment option, expect some flaws from your dental night mouth guard. Key among the downsides is the fact that dental appliances are not as effective as CPAP devices. That said, think twice before buying a silent night mouth guard claims to be 100% effective. Such issues aside, expect the following side effects with a standard sleep apnea mouth guard:

• Dry lips
• Excess salivation
• Tooth discomfort

For long term mouth guard users, permanent changes may take place in the position of their teeth and jaws. There are rare cases where symptoms have included worsening of the apnea. That is why choosing a good mouth guard is highly recommended. This opens up another crucial factor to consider.

Choosing the Best Mouth Guard

Shopping for the right mouth guard may be hard if you’re out to get the device for the first time. With the help of your doctor however, the whole process should be fairly simple. Go for nothing short of what he/she has recommended. Then check out for recommendations and reviews. All these information is available online, so expect to have an easy time when shopping for a guard.

Taking Care of Your Mouth Guard

All mouth guards come with easy to understand tips on how to take care of them. Take time to read the manual. Then try the best you can to always put on the guard after washing your face. Don’t share the device with anyone, and use mild soaps and detergents to wash it, unless you want the guard’s silicon lining to wear off.

Conclusion

A night mouth guard could be all you need in your bid to fall asleep like you used to when you were still a kid. It should, however, be noted that just like using other medical devices, mouth guards, too, should be used under the supervision of a doctor. The doctor must first identify how severe your condition is, which device treats it better and when it’s time to change the device for another one.