You only get two sets of teeth in your life, so it’s important to ensure that you’re protecting them. If you’re prone to grinding or clenching your teeth, at risk of injury, or suffer from snoring or obstructive sleep apnea, mouthguards can help. We here at Central Davis Dental care deeply about helping each and every one of our patients achieve optimal oral health. If you need a mouthguard to protect your teeth, we’ll ensure that it fits correctly and is suitable for your specific concerns.
Types Of Mouthguards
There are three primary types of mouthguards that we here at Central Davis Dental provide.
- Night Guards are to help prevent teeth grinding during sleep.
- Sleep Apnea Mouth Pieces are an alternative to sleep apnea or snore therapy.
- Athletic Mouthguards are custom-made to protect the teeth during athletic activities.
We will advise you as to whether or not a mouthguard would be helpful for you and, if so, which type of mouthguard would be best in order to protect your teeth.
Night Guards
Night guards are to help prevent teeth grinding and clenching during sleep. Chronic teeth grinding can lead to fracturing, loosening, or loss of teeth, and can also result in teeth wearing down to stumps.
In severe cases, grinding your teeth can lead to jaw problems, hearing loss, and even change the appearance of your face. Night guards keep you from grinding your teeth at night and help prevent the negative symptoms of teeth grinding and clenching.
Sleep Apnea Mouth Pieces
Sleep apnea can be a serious sleep disorder, as it causes people to temporarily stop breathing while they’re asleep. This can cause your risk of heart disease and stroke to go up, as your brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen. It can also prevent you from getting good sleep and cause you to snore when you do.
If you have more serious sleep apnea, you may use a CPAP machine to keep your airways open while you’re asleep. However, if you have a more mild case, a sleep apnea mouthguard may serve the same purpose.
Sleep apnea mouthpieces are different from your more traditional mouthguards because their purpose is to keep your airway open, not to protect your teeth from clenching and grinding. What they do is push your lower jaw and tongue forward, with some having straps that go around your head in order to adjust your lower jaw. This prevents your tongue or jaw from obstructing your airways, allowing you to breathe easier.
Athletic Guards
Athletic mouthguards are custom-made to protect the teeth during athletic activities. The American Dental Association urges all athletes to use mouthguards when engaging in physical activity. Dental injuries are very common in both contact (such as football and basketball) and non-contact sports (such as gymnastics and skating).
Multiple studies have shown that mouth guards protect your teeth and the soft tissues in your mouth from sports-related injuries. It is estimated that injuries are two times more likely to occur when a mouthguard is not worn. If you or a family member participates in athletic activities, ask about a custom-fit mouthguard to help prevent any future injuries.
Caring For Your Mouthguard
In order for your mouthguard to properly protect your teeth, remain hygienic, and last for as long as possible, you must ensure that you are taking proper care of it. Not to worry – when we give you your mouthguard, regardless of whether it’s a nightguard, sleep apnea mouthpiece, or athletic mouthguard, we’ll give you detailed instructions on what you can do to care for it.
That said, some general guidelines for mouthguard care are as follows.
- Brushing and flossing your teeth before putting the mouthguard in.
- Cleaning your mouthguard after each use.
- Rinsing your mouthguard with cool water before putting it in.
- Regularly check your mouthguard for any signs of wear and tear, as these indicate that it is in need of replacement.
- Bring custom mouthguards with you to dental appointments so that your dentist can ensure that they still fit correctly.
- Allow your mouthguard to dry between uses and keep it stored in a hard container that has some ventilation.
Do You Need A Mouthguard?
We here at Central Davis Dental are here to help. Whether you’re struggling with bruxism, you play a sport that puts your teeth at risk, or you have sleep apnea, we’ll give you the appropriate mouthguard for your needs and advise you on how to use it and care for it. Contact us today to learn more about our dental services and how we can help you keep your teeth healthy and strong.