Why Did My Dentist Recommend a Mouth Guard?

Just had a dental exam, and found your dentist recommending a mouth guard? It’s always a little stressful to have a new dental appliance in your life – but it can be such a positive thing. Guards help prevent more serious dental problems and protect your teeth. Learning more about what you’re avoiding by wearing a guard will help you get motivated to not only have a custom guard made but also wear it as instructed.

We’ve got a Guards 101 guide below – scroll down and see if you can’t find answers to your questions. If you’re still uncertain about getting a guard, just get in touch to learn more about why it was likely recommended.

Types of Mouth Guards

When we say “mouth guards,” we’re actually referring to a few different types of guards. There are several oral guards that each aim to correct a different dental problem or sleeping problem. They include:

• Sports guard – An athletic mouth guard is meant to be worn during contact sports or activities that may involve falls or moving equipment. This type of guard protects the teeth from damage and can also help prevent injuries related to blows to the face, head or jaw during athletic activities. These guards also help prevent cut lips and other soft tissue damage. They usually fit over the upper teeth. See more about finding an effective sports guard below.
• Night guard – A night guard is meant to be worn during the night to protect the teeth from the forces of clenching and grinding. If you have a problem with grinding your teeth while you sleep, this guard will cover your enamel and help ensure a healthy bite during the night. Different types of guards restrict the movement of the lower jaw or just cover the top teeth to prevent enamel wear. Your dentist will recommend the guard that best fits your needs.
• Sleep apnea oral appliance – While not technically a guard, it’s easy to confuse sleep apnea appliances because with night guards because they also rest in your mouth while you sleep. But these help hold your airway open so that it’s not interrupted during the night. Oral appliances help patients with OSA, obstructive sleep apnea.

Getting an Effective Mouth Guard

There are plenty of guards available in drugstores – and they’re much cheaper than custom guards you can have made by your dentist. But these also aren’t anywhere near as effective. When you’re navigating mouth guard options, you’re choosing from the following:

• Custom guards – These guards are made by your dentist or a dental lab from impressions of your teeth. They fit your teeth snugly and comfortably, and offer the highest possible level of protection. Because they are custom made, they are also more expensive. But if you’re an athlete or a chronic grinder, this type of guard is going to be necessary. Studies have shown that other types of guards just don’t offer anywhere near the same level of protection. If you’re going to be wearing a guard, make sure it’s one that actually works. A custom guard worn during athletics can not only protect teeth, but may also help prevent head injuries.
• Boil and bite mouth guards – These guards come in a basic shape that is altered by the wearer, at home. You boil the guard, then bite into the warm plastic to form it to your teeth. These are available at sporting goods stores, and are the next step down from a custom guard (i.e. less effective).
• Stock guards – These inexpensive guards come pre-made but this means that they typically are ill-fitting and uncomfortable. They can also make breathing and talking more difficult. This type of guard does not offer much protection and may be more of a hindrance than a help.

Why Mouth Guards Are Crucial for Your Health

Whether you’re wearing a mouth guard to protect your teeth from potential injury while you’re on the field or while you’re asleep in bed, there are many health and emotional benefits to wearing a custom guard.

If you’re an athlete, you can help prevent broken teeth, cut lips or a cut tongue, and even head injuries.

If you’re grinding your teeth at night, there are even more positive benefits. The short- and long-term effects of bruxism, chronic grinding, are many. You’ll not only feel better on a daily basis but better avoid health problems in the future. Some of the complications that can stem from regular grinding include:

• Headaches and facial pain, especially in the morning (those with bruxism are 3x more likely to have headaches)
• Aching, exhausted-feeling jaw
• Earaches
• Tight or stiff shoulders
• Limited use of the jaw, with the jaw feeling restricted or stuck
• Poor quality of sleep
• Partner or family members losing sleep due to grinding sounds
• Loosened teeth
• Inflamed, receding gums
• Worn tooth enamel
• TMJ/TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder

Don’t let these painful, debilitating problems take hold of your life. Get in touch to learn whether you could benefit from a mouth guard today.

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