Mouthguards Teeth grinding, medically referred to as bruxism, is considered a disorder. It is a real problem in the lives of millions of Americans. Teeth grinding can damage your tooth enamel. It can cause cracked and chipped teeth or loosen the teeth. In patients who wear braces, teeth grinding, or jaw clenching can damage the oral appliances. Our dentist at 253 Dental Care offers custom mouthguards to help protect your teeth.What is a Mouthguard?A night mouthguard is an oral appliance that is designed to protect your teeth as well as oral appliances like braces. It is customized for every individual because people have different mouth shapes. Depending on the problem you want to address, whether sleep apnea, protection of braces, or protection of your mouth, we will construct the right night guard for you. Types of Night MouthguardsMouthguards are used to protect our teeth from damage and injury. If you have teeth-grinding problems, our professionals will guide you on the types of mouthguards you can wear. A boil and bite mouth protector is made from thermoplastic material. Before wearing them, you should place them in hot water then into your mouth and press them using your fingers and tongue pressure. Stock mouth protectors come already constructed. These mouthguards are not as expensive as the boil and bite protectors. And a downside with them is that they cannot be adjusted to fit the user since they are premade. Our dental office provides custom-made mouth protectors since they are specifically designed for you. To make the mouthguards, our dental team makes an impression of your upper and lower teeth. The impression is then molded and used to construct the mouthguards. In addition, tailor-made mouth protectors take time to produce but they are more comfortable because they fit properly in your mouth. When you visit our office, we will discuss the options of mouthguards we provide to our patients. Depending on your treatment goal or the use of the mouthguards, we will custom make them for you. Benefits of Wearing a Night MouthguardA night mouthguard protects your teeth by ensuring the top and the bottom teeth have no contact when sleeping. Teeth grinding is a common problem that causes many dental issues. If you clench or grind your teeth, you may have noticed that you wake up with headaches. This disorder not only causes headaches but can lead to toothaches. You may have a painful jaw and your teeth could chip, crack, or become sensitive. A night mouth protector helps eliminate these problems. While asleep you cannot control the clenching of your jaw. Wearing a night mouthguard will reduce jaw tension and pain arising from clenching. It is important you have a healthy sleep pattern. Clenching and grinding affect your sleep patterns, often leading to mental and physical health issues. The use of night mouthguards can help improve your sleep. Moreover, the use of night mouth protectors can help prevent snoring or sleep apnea. Caring for MouthguardsBecause mouthguards remain in your mouth for many hours, they will accumulate bacteria and debris. You, therefore, need to ensure they remain clean. After use or before you wear them, make sure they are clean. Our dentist will give you instructions on how to clean the mouth protector. You can use water and non-abrasive toothpaste to clean your night mouthguard. You can also use non-alcoholic soap and water to clean it. For more information about protecting your braces, teeth, and other oral appliances, visit us at 253 Dental Care. Call us at (253) 838-9333 to talk to one of our staff. |
