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Have you been informed that as you sleep, you grind your teeth? Do your clenching habits lead you to have headaches or jaw pain all the time? If that's the case, then night guard could be the solution. When clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth, wear a mouth guard to prevent excessive tooth wear and relieve temporomandibular joint pain. This extensive guide will discuss the value of mouthguards, who can use them, and which kinds of mouth guards are best for you.
What Are Mouth Guard?
Dental appliances that protect your teeth are called mouth guards. They are frequently used during sports to shield teeth from damage caused by teeth grinding. Mouth protectors are beneficial for both adults and children.
Importance of Mouth Guard
Several studies demonstrate that using mouth guards can help avoid:
- Severe oral trauma, such as knocked out and fractured teeth, jaw trauma
- Severe damage to the cheek, tongue, and lip soft tissues
Mouth guards can lower the risk of oral injury during sports activity by 60 times, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Additionally, every year in the US, over 200,000 sports-related mouth injuries are avoided.
Types of Mouth Guard
Although there are a few various types of mouthguards, they all serve the same basic purpose of shielding your lips and face from harm. A wise guideline to remember? You'll receive better protection from a mouthguard if it fits you properly.
There are three types of mouthguards in general:
- Stock- The least expensive, one-size-fits-all design prevents them from providing a good level of protection or a comfortable fit.
- Boil-and-bite- Regarding both price and functionality, they are a good compromise between readymade and custom-made. The method used to mold them—boiling them before biting into them to imprint your teeth—is how they got their name.
- Custom-made- provide the highest protection and are frequently more expensive. After taking an impression of your teeth and gums, the dentist creates a custom guard for your bite.
Who Needs a Mouth Guard?
Mouth guards are often thought of as being for athletes, however, they are beneficial to people in more areas than just athletics. This section will discuss who should use mouth guards and how their protection might improve oral health and general well-being.
1. Athletes and Sports Enthusiasts
Contact sports players—football, basketball, Soccer, boxing, and gymnastics—are more likely to sustain tooth injuries due to hits, collisions, and falls. The danger of broken teeth, fractured jaws, and soft tissue injuries is decreased with mouth guards, which operate as a protective barrier against these forces.
2. Individuals with Teeth Grinding
Bruxism, often known as teeth grinding, is a widespread disorder that many people experience, frequently as they sleep. Bruxism can cause temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues, headaches, jaw pain, and worn-down teeth over time. Wearing a custom-fitted night guard while you sleep can improve dental health and ease the symptoms related to grinding by protecting your teeth and lessening its negative effects.
3. Snoring
Additionally, mouthguards can lessen snoring, which is caused by vibrations in the soft tissue of your upper airway. They often function similarly to sleep apnea mouthguards. To maintain an open airway, both types function by pushing your lower jaw forward.
4. Management of TMJ Disorder
Disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can result in jaw joint pain, stiffness, and popping or clicking sounds. For those with TMJ problems, a mouthguard that is custom-fitted and made to relieve pressure on the jaw joint can help, enhancing comfort and functionality.
Knowing the value of mouthguards and who can use them can help you make an informed choice about protecting and maintaining the health of your teeth. Find out which kind of mouthguard is ideal for you by speaking with your dentist, and then take comfort in the knowledge that your smile is well-protected.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is a mouthguard necessary?
A mouthguard can shield your teeth from harm and stop dental damage if you grind your teeth at night or play contact sports.
2. Who needs to wear a mouth guard?
A mouthguard can be helpful for athletes, those who grind their teeth, and people with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
