Night Guard Maintenance

For people who suffer from bruxism, a night guard can be essential to oral comfort. Bruxism, or night time teeth grinding, puts strain on the temporomandibular joint and can erode or crack enamel. A custom-fitted oral appliance can keep the patient’s jaws parted, sparing them dental trauma and helping to keep their airways open if they have obstructive sleep apnea. But night guards need to be kept clean, and we at Dr. Joseph Dallessandro’s Midtown dental practice want to make sure patients are doing it right.

The specifics of how to clean an oral appliance will depend on its design and may be found on a manufacturer’s website. But the biggest variance is whether it should be kept wet or dry when not in use. After being removed in the morning, a night guard should be brushed with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Patients should not use toothpaste, as the fluoride could scratch plastic. Many manufacturers also sell cleaning solution which can improve a night guard’s smell and help kill lingering bacteria. But patients also need to remember to clean the container out daily, which can be done with antibacterial soap and water.

Patients should be careful to keep the night guard at room temperature and not subject it to hot water or prolonged sunlight. Like a denture, the oral appliance’s shape could become distorted in excessive heat. Patients should not attempt to fix a broken night guard on their own or wear one that is no longer fitting well.

Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS, and Jiah Choi, DDS, operate at 360 E 72nd St, Ste B, New York, New York, 10021. To set up an appointment, call 212-988-1089, or visit Joseph Dallessandro DDS and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Night Guard Protection

Mild tooth grinding may not require treatment. However, in serious cases, tooth grinding, also known as bruxism, can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders (TMJ/TMD), headaches, and damaged teeth. Once your teeth become damaged this can lead to costly dental procedures that could have been avoided with night guard treatment. Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro offers custom-fitted night guards to eligible patients. These night guards are made for your mouth and your mouth only to provide maximum comfort.

It might be pretty unattractive to wear a night guard in the daytime, so that is why it should be worn during sleep. The night guard, which is very similar to a mouth guard that athletes wear, provides a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while you sleep. All night guards at Artisan Dental are custom fitted for comfort and allow for proper breathing. To create the night guard Dr. Kamal Ahmed will first take an impression of your teeth and have the night guard created by a dental lab. 

If you have questions or concerns regarding night guards or oral appliances, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.josephdallessandro.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro in our New York, NY office, call 212-988-1089.

Mouth Ulcers

If you need help with a mouth ulcer, the Midtown office of Dr. Joseph Dallesandro is the place to go. Although ulcers usually clear up on their own in about a month, it is worth consulting with us to determine if the problem is being caused by a bad bite and if there’s any treatment we can provide for the symptoms.

The herpes simplex virus-1 is responsible for cold sores. It is easily transferable during an outbreak and most people already have it from sharing cups or straws in childhood. Although the cold sore does little serious harm, it is important for patients not to transmit any fluid from the sore to their eyes. We can provide antibiotics and topical painkillers, if necessary. Unlike cold sores, cankers are lesions that are large and white. It is unknown what causes them, but they tend to occur in teenagers suffering from stress and nutritional problems.

Ulcers resulting from the patient biting down on the soft tissue of their mouths will recur until the teeth’s alignment is corrected or whatever habit is causing the patient to bite their cheek or lip is broken. Bruxism, or nighttime tooth grinding, is one possible culprit.

Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS, and Jiah Choi, DDS, operate at 360 E 72^nd St, Ste B, New York, New York, 10021. To set up an appointment, call 212-988-1089, or visit JosephDallessandroDDS.com, and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Basics of Bruxism

If your teeth are worn, damaged, or sensitive, or if you have pain in your jaw, face, or ear, it may be time to visit Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro in our New York, NY office. These are common symptoms of bruxism, a condition in which you grind, gnash, or clench your teeth and the condition can have a variety of causes. Some experts view this issue as nothing more than a habit, but this habit can wreak serious havoc on your teeth, provoking you to endure invasive dental procedures in the future.

People with severe bruxism can break dental fillings or damage their teeth. Rubbing the teeth together can cause the outer layers of enamel to wear away, exposing dentin, which can lead to tooth sensitivity. Severe bruxism can also be the result of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders as well as unexplained facial pain. If Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro determines that you’re a “bruxer” he will discuss the best way to treat it. The treatment of bruxism depends on the cause.

If you notice yourself grinding or clenching your teeth, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.josephdallessandro.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro in our New York, NY office, call 212-988-1089.

Stop Snoring with Night Guards

Most people are affected by bruxism, a fancy word for teeth grinding and although people may do this consciously do this during the day, it is a larger problem at night when you are asleep. Many people clench their teeth to the point of destructiveness and Dr. Joseph S. Dallessandro can provide you with a night guard to prevent this from happening.

Night guards aren’t the most attractive devices, but they will keep you from sleeping on the couch. The night guard which is very similar to a mouth guard worn by athletes provides a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while you sleep. Grinding your teeth can damage enamel, wear down teeth, cause jaw pain, or irritate your gums. The noise from teeth grinding can also disturb your spouse's sleep if loud enough. Here at the office, all night guards are custom fitted for comfort and to allow for proper breathing.

If your spouse is pestering you to stop snoring during the night, give us a call to discuss your options. To learn more about night guards, visit www.josephdallessandrodds.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS in New York, NY, call 212-988-1089.