What Are Mouth Guards and What Do They Do?

Mouthguards are coverings that you wear over your teeth for several reasons. First, when you visit your dentist in NW Calgary, they look at your teeth, evaluate your dental history and determine whether or not you need a mouthguard.

When you are looking for a dentist to customize your mouthguard near you, it is important to know that there are different types of mouthguards that your dentist can recommend. Let’s look at these types, their uses, and all you need to know about mouth guards.

What Are Mouth Guards

Mouthguards are dental coverings worn over teeth to protect your gums, cheeks, tongue, and teeth from bruxism and injury that you can experience during sports: if you’re a sportsperson.

There are different people for who a dentist can recommend wearing a mouthguard. First, mouth guards for TMJ are utilized to hold the jaw of a patient with TMJ disorder, reducing jaw pain.

If you participate in contact sports like football, basketball, hockey, or lacrosse, you are a good candidate for wearing a mouthguard. This is because the probability of the ball hitting your face, precisely around the teeth area, is high, and the impact can damage your teeth. A mouthguard is worn to prevent this, protecting your teeth from trauma.

There are other non-contact sports like biking, skating, and ice skating, where there is a high probability of falling and injuring your teeth, where wearing a mouthguard is imperative. This is because you can fall and crack your teeth, making wearing a mouth guard all-important.

What Are the Types of Mouth Guards?

There are two major classifications of mouth guards. First, mouth guards are used to protect teeth from trauma, and those used for dental treatment: guards made for patients with teeth grinding and clenching problems. These dental appliances serve different uses and let’s dive in at each type of mouth guard and its purpose.

First, there are custom-fitted mouth guards. The dentist in NW Calgary will take an impression of how your teeth look like for them to make a mouth guard that perfectly fits your teeth and mouth. Note that custom-fitted mouthguards will cost you more than over the counter mouth guards. The good news is that they offer the best protection and will feel very comfortable in your mouth. This type of mouthguard is made for different purposes. This type of mouthguard will work best for your needs, whether bruxism or sports protection.

Boil and bite mouth guards are made from a thermoplastic material that enables you to shape them at home. First, place it in hot water to shape the mouthguard, then put the softened mouthguard into your mouth. After this, use your fingers to press the mouthguard onto the front teeth and molars. Do this until you feel the mouth guard fits perfectly, and then you can bite it down for about 20 seconds. The last step is to remove the dental device from your mouth and put it in cool water (for it to harden); then, now you can use the mouth guard. You can repeat this process until you feel the mouth protector is comfortable in your mouth.

Stock is another type of mouthguard. This type of mouthguard is a size fits all as it is ready to wear. The disadvantage of this type of mouthguard is that they are not specifically made for your teeth, and therefore they won’t fit well in your mouth. This makes them the least protective type of mouthguard.

If you want a custom-made mouthguard that will provide maximum protection for your teeth, head to Springhill Dental. We will take impressions of your teeth and develop a mouth guard that will make you confident of full protection from teeth grinding, clenching, and impact from sports activities.

How Do I Care for A Mouthguard?

It is important to take care of your mouthguard; the same way you care for your teeth. This is because these mouth protectors collect lots of bacteria from your mouth.

Clean your mouthguard before and after you wear them. Use soapy water and a brush to clean the mouth guard and rinse with cool water. Store them in a vented, sturdy plastic case when you are not wearing the guard.