When it comes to oral health, preventive measures are extremely important in order to avoid painful and expensive dental treatment. A mouthguard is one such preventive measure offered by your dental clinic, mostly used by athletes to prevent any kind of damage to the teeth, jaw, and gums. It is essential to use mouthguards when someone is practicing contact sports such as boxing, martial arts, rugby and more. The concept of wearing a mouth guard originated during the early days of boxing since it requires a lot of physical contact between the opponents, especially direct blows to the face and head.
Uses of Mouthguards
There are plenty of different reasons to use a mouthguard. First and foremost, the primary use of a mouth guard is to protect the teeth from trauma to the mouth and teeth. Dental trauma is one of the most severe cases of tooth decay due to the damage it can cause to the nerves in the jaw bone and the tissue.
Wearing a mouth guard protects the jaw and teeth from experiencing dental trauma during contact sports. The design of mouthguards offers complete coverage of the teeth and the gums, to avoid any type of dental issues. However, there are different types of mouthguards for purposes such as to avoid damage that is done subconsciously to the teeth such as teeth grinding and clenching. For those who have porcelain bridges or veneers, dentists recommend wearing night guards for extra protection. Your dental clinic in Edmonton can provide you with advice on which direction to go in when it comes to purchasing a mouthguard.
What are the Different Kinds of Mouthguards?
The most commonly used mouth guard is the stock or ready-made mouthguards, which can be purchased at sporting goods or department store. There are a few options you can choose from, however, there are standard sizes offered such as small, medium, large that do not accommodate individual differences. The boil and bite type of mouthguards are more flexible and can snuggly fit in one’s mouth for some people. The material used is boiled to soften it and once the person bites into it, the impression of their teeth is made. Once the mouthguard cools down, it forms to the impression of your teeth. It is most commonly used for athletes who are beginners. However, it does not offer optimum protection to the gums and teeth.
For the professional athletes who use mouthguards regularly or those who are more cautious about negative impacts on their teeth, there is a custom-made mouthguard option available. These types of mouthguards are more comfortable and made from good quality materials. They are made in a dental lab, in contrast to mouthguards you can buy over the counter.
First, your Edmonton dentist will take an impression of your teeth, which is used as a model to make the custom mouthguard. This impression is then sent to a dental lab where the mouthguard is fabricated. This can take a week or two before the mouthguard is completed. Some of the impressions are taken in a vacuum form and they can also be pressure laminated. Impression-less mouthguards are also made from a thermal polymer material that gives a perfect custom fit.
Once the mouthguard is created, you will visit your Edmonton dental clinic to ensure it fits comfortably in the mouth. If any adjustments are needed to get a better fit, they will be done on the spot. Custom made mouthguards are quite expensive, but for regular users, it is worth it.
Another type of mouthguard is the nightguard, which is also custom-made to fit a person’s specific mouth. This type of mouthguard is used to ensure the patient is not damaging their teeth subconsciously during sleep. This type of mouthguard helps avoid teeth grinding as well as clenching that typically happens while the patient is sleeping and preserves the state of their teeth as a result.
How to Properly Care for Mouthguards?
Properly cleaning and storing your mouthguard is essential to ensure that they stay in good condition and last as long as possible. Whether you are an athlete or someone who would like to preserve their dental work, wearing a custom mouthguard is an effective option that should be considered. Additionally, properly caring for your mouthguard is essential to preserving the health of your teeth. By cleaning your mouthguard and keeping it dry in-between uses you are ensuring it will last a long time.
You can simply use soap, toothbrush, and warm water to clean it after use. Storing it in a dry and steady container is also important to keep it hygienic and also to maintain its shape. Do not throw it in your bag or have it lying around on open surfaces since it can not only affect the look and the shape of your mouthguard but also can affect your health negatively due to bacteria growth.
When you visit your Edmonton dentist, remember to bring your mouthguard to allow them to check if it is in good condition or if there is wear. This may result in needing a new mouthguard to avoid damage to the teeth.
