If you have ever been to the dentist, then you know that they always ask if you wear a mouth guard during sports. The dentist wants to ensure that your teeth are protected, but do you know how? Do you think it is because of the potential for injury? If so, this article will tell you more about why wearing a mouthguard can protect your teeth.
Why Mouthguards?
Mouthguards provide a barrier between your teeth and the outside world. This protects them from accidental knocks, bites, or blows to the face. They are worn by boxers and athletes who participate in rugby, football, and hockey, where injuries may be more likely to occur due to high play speeds or physical contact with other players. Mouthguards can also be worn to protect your teeth from grinding and clenching while you sleep. This is known as bruxism or “teeth grinding”, and the condition affects up to 60% of adults over 30 years old.
Teeth damage due to long term nighttime teeth gnashing, such as chipping/cracking, wearing away enamel (the outer layer), and gum recession all wear down teeth more quickly than they usually would do in a lifetime. Moreover, Dentist Mitchelton, Brisbane, makes their custom mouthguards that would perfectly fit in your mouth. Knowing this, it would be better to book a consultation with the dentist as soon as possible.
Types of mouthguards
There are three basic types of mouthguards: stock, boil and bite, and custom fit.
Stock mouth protectors can be bought in a drugstore or sporting goods store. They include one-size-fits-all options that you put into boiling water to soften the material before placing it in your mouth. You can also buy “boil and bite” models, which require you to set the guard in hot water for a few seconds, so it becomes soft enough to adjust with your teeth but not too hot to burn yourself when biting down on it. These two styles offer less protection than custom-fitted ones from an orthodontist because they do not have separate protection for individual teeth or follow the contours of your teeth.
Custom-fit mouthguards are made by dentists using impressions of your teeth. These provide the most protection and comfort because they fit perfectly into your teeth and cost more than other options due to their customization. A dentist will usually take an impression of your upper arch with a putty material or sometimes use digital scanning technology, which preserves all the fine details needed to create a replica in plastic resin materials used to make custom-fit mouthguards.
The Benefits Of Mouthguard
- Protects your teeth from impact and grinding damage
- Prevents injuries such as lacerations, tooth fractures, and root damage
- It prevents damage to your jaw joints and eardrums
- Decreases your risk of jaw fractures and other dental injuries
- It prevents injuries to other parts of your body should you fall and hit your head
The Bottom Line
A mouthguard is a protective dental appliance designed to cover the teeth and gums. While it may look like an athletic piece of equipment, a sports mouthguard can prevent significant accidents at home or in your place of work as well. Besides placing the mouthguard, getting it done with the right dentist is also essential. It would be best to consider Dentist Mitchelton, Brisbane, to have your custom mouth guard placed.
