You’ve heard the saying, “It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.” While your teeth are powerful, they can break, crack, even come out. At Hill Avenue Dental, we recommend using mouth guards, especially when playing sports, to protect your teeth. There are many options with mouth guards, so let our professional dentists, Dr. Dotson and Dr. Hartzell, make sure you have the right one.
What is a Custom Mouth Guard?
A mouth guard is an appliance that shields and safeguards your teeth. Mouth guards protect you from injury and prevent damage to your teeth or any dental work. Mouth guards cushion the impact of a hit to the face, reducing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, cheeks, and jaw. They can be made out of different types of plastic and can be custom-made to your smile.
Different Types of Mouth Guards
Dr. Dotson, Dr. Hartzell, and our outstanding team are dedicated to keeping your smile healthy and free from discomfort. To help us do this, we provide several mouth guards at our office.
Athletic Mouth Guards
Sports are responsible for around a third of all dental emergencies. The best athletic mouth guard provides high-impact energy absorption. There are several types of athletic mouth guards you can choose from. There are stock mouth guards and custom-made mouth guards. Here at Hill Avenue Dental, we highly recommend custom-made mouth guards because they will fit your teeth perfectly, allowing more protection.
Night Guard
Another type of mouth guard is a nightguard. If you are someone who grinds your teeth while sleeping, a night guard might be right for you. Grinding your teeth can lead to various dental problems, including worn-down teeth and cavities. The purpose of a nightguard is to prevent you from damaging your teeth further. Just like athletic mouth guards, night guards are also custom-fit to your mouth’s shape.
What are the Benefits of Wearing a Mouth Guard?
There are many advantages to wearing a mouth guard. Some of these benefits include:
Protect Your Teeth: The most important benefit is that mouth guards protect your teeth from damage, whether this is while you’re playing sports.
Prevent Teeth Grinding: While a mouth guard can’t stop you from grinding your teeth, it can protect your teeth and keep them from wearing down further.
Prevents Tooth and Jaw Pain: If you suffer from bruxism, mouth guards are a great way to help stop jaw pain and even headaches from the constant clenching and grinding.
Stop Snoring: Mouth guards can be worn at night to help prevent snoring. These are especially useful for people who suffer from sleep apnea.
We Got Your Teeth Covered
When you come in for your appointment, Dr. Dotson and Dr. Hartzell can help you decide which type of mouth guard is right for you.
- Stock Mouth guard: Stock mouth guards are inexpensive and come in various sizes. They’re simple and come pre-formed and ready to use. The majority of them only cover your top row of teeth. This choice is often uncomfortable, and they don’t always fit correctly. They can also be thick, making breathing and speaking difficult.
- Boil-and-Bite: Many sporting goods and drugstores carry these mouth guards, which may fit better than stock mouth guards. At home, you can mold your mouth guard to fit your teeth. They’re softened in hot water before being inserted into your mouth to form the shape of your mouth. You can alter the mouth guard to achieve the best fit by repeating these steps.
- Custom-Fit: Dr. Dotson or Dr. Hartzell designs a mouth guard that comfortably fits your teeth and mouth using an impression of your teeth. The cost of custom-fit mouth guards is higher, but they provide the best fit and protection.
Given the amount of time and money you’ve invested in creating a smile you’re proud of, your efforts shouldn’t be lost on a dental injury that you could have avoided. Mouth guards can protect your teeth from harm during sports, prevent damage to your teeth from grinding, and even alleviate sleep apnea in rare cases.