What Are Dental Mouth Guards?
A mouth guard is an oral appliance worn over your teeth to protect them from impact and injury, most commonly during contact sports and other physical activities. If you grind or clench your teeth at night, a night guard is the more appropriate appliance, and our team can help you find the right one for your needs. Dental mouth guards are custom-fit to your teeth and are soft on the inside and firm on the exterior to protect them comfortably and effectively.
Schedule a ConsultationWhy Are Mouth Guards Needed?
Replacing or repairing lost or broken teeth is costly, in addition to causing additional pain. Wearing a mouthguard while participating in sports can help you avoid chipped or missing teeth, tooth nerve damage, and soft tissue damage to the tongue, inside cheeks, lips, and gums.
Who Is a Candidate for Mouth Guards?
How can you tell if you’re a good candidate for a custom mouthguard? If you participate in contact sports or have dental problems such as chronic teeth grinding or TMJ issues, you may benefit from a mouth guard. The doctor will analyze your situation and determine whether a custom mouthguard is the best option for you during your consultation.
What Happens During The Mouth Guard Creation Process?
A custom-made mouthguard normally requires two sessions with your dentist. They’ll take imprints of your teeth and create a model before shipping it to a laboratory to be made for a unique fit. Your second appointment will be to confirm that your mouthguard fits when it has been returned from the lab. Finally, your dentist will file down any rough edges and make any necessary modifications to achieve that precise form and size that is unique to you!
Can I Wear a Mouth Guard If I Have Braces?
One question brace wearers frequently ask is whether they can still wear a mouth guard while their braces are on. The answer is yes, and it’s actually especially important to do so. Braces already put pressure on your teeth as they work to straighten and correct alignment, which makes your mouth more vulnerable to injury during sports or other physical activity.
A standard mouth guard, however, is not always a good fit over braces, since brackets and wires can change the shape of your bite. At Smith Family Dentistry, we can create a custom mouth guard designed to fit comfortably over your braces, protecting both your teeth and your orthodontic appliance without interfering with your treatment progress.
Can I Wear a Mouth Guard If I Wear Braces?
Mouthguards protect your teeth and gums from harm while also improving your general quality of life. One question that brace wearers frequently ask is, “Can you wear a mouthguard over braces?”
Braces are used to help straighten and correct teeth. They are usually permanently put into the mouth and held in place for an extended length of time. This is OK, but it does not mean that they can be eliminated.
Do You Need to Clean Your Mouthguard?
Mouthguards, like toothbrushes, can collect food particles and bacterial plaque. Because a mouthguard is porous, bacteria have plenty of places to hide. This is why it is critical to understand how to clean a mouthguard.
As a general rule, rinse your mouthguard with warm or cool water immediately after each usage. This helps to loosen any germs or plaque that may have accumulated while wearing the device. Rinse the mouthguard with cool water to avoid altering its shape.
Then you should clean it once a day and deep-clean it once a week. You run a higher risk of infection and gum disease if you don’t clean your mouthguard.
Get your personalized mouthguards made today to protect yourself and your children. To make an appointment with our dental office, please call us.
Request an AppointmentFrequently Asked Questions
About Mouthguards
A custom mouth guard from Smith Family Dentistry is molded specifically to your teeth for a precise, comfortable fit, unlike generic store-bought guards that can feel bulky or shift out of place during use.
Yes, a mouth guard can be worn with braces, and it’s especially important for protecting both your teeth and your orthodontic appliance during contact sports. Our Saginaw, MI team can help fit a guard that works with your braces.
The process typically involves two visits. During the first, we take an impression of your teeth, and during the second, we confirm the fit once your custom guard returns from the lab.
Yes, even occasional sports participation carries a risk of dental injury, so it’s worth protecting your teeth any time you’re in a contact or high-impact activity.
Rinse your mouth guard with cool water after every use, clean it daily, and deep clean it once a week to prevent bacteria and plaque buildup.
No, mouth guards benefit patients of all ages, including adults who grind their teeth or participate in contact sports. Smith Family Dentistry offers custom guards for the whole family.
If you experience jaw soreness, headaches, or worn teeth from grinding rather than sports activity, our Saginaw, MI, dentists can evaluate whether a mouth guard or a night guard is the better fit for your needs.