A night guard is used as protection from the potentially harmful effects of teeth grinding and clenching during sleep, also called bruxism.

Bruxism is a parafunctional habit that happens when a person is in the deepest sleep. Most of the time, the person is completely unaware of this very detrimental habit. Bruxism is a silent killer of your oral health, with long-term consequences for your teeth, TMJ, and jaw muscles.The most common symptoms are generalised sensitivity of teeth due to wear of enamel, a dull headache when you wake up in the morning, and sore jaw muscles. If not diagnosed and corrected on time, it can require surgical intervention to correct the damage done to your TMJ, jaw muscles, and teeth. A very easy way to prevent all these complications is to wear a night guard.

Night guards are available through your dentist. Guards of this type tend to be of a higher quality and superior fit than the ones available at some stores, as they are custom made for every patient in a special laboratory from an impression of their mouth carefully taken by a dental professional.