What Are Dental Mouth Guards?
A mouth guard, often known as a dental night guard, is an oral appliance used to protect your teeth. Mouth guards are typically worn at night to protect the teeth from damage and excessive wear caused by grinding. They are custom-fit to your teeth and are soft on the inside and firm on the exterior to guard them pleasantly.
Why 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 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.