What Are Mouthguards and What Do They Do?

If you are a sports person, mouthguards are something you’ll need to know about before you head to the game. Mouthguards cover your teeth and protect them from damage or injury. They protect against cut lips and cracked or chipped teeth. If you have braces or dental bridges, your dentist will recommend a mouthguard for the teeth. Also if your kids are into activities like gymnastics, mountain biking, or skating that might cause injury to the teeth, and they’ll need a mouthguard. It’ll protect their teeth and gums.

What are Mouthguards?

They are protective devices that cover the gums and teeth. Mouthguards reduce the risk of injuries to the teeth and arches. A crash helmet for the jaw and teeth is one of the effective mouthguards.

Who Needs a Mouth Guard?

Both adults and children need a mouthguard. A mouthguard dentist near you may recommend one if you and your child:

• You experience teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Participate in a contact sport like football, basketball, or hockey that can lead to a hit on the face
• Plays noncontact sports that increase the risk of high falls. These games are such as biking and ice skating.

What are the Different Types of Mouthguards?

Mouthguards exist in two main categories:

• Those made to protect teeth from sports trauma and athletic activities
• Guards made for patients with teeth grinding or bruxism

The two types of devices have different purposes and feel and look differently. Also, patients get their mouthguards in different ways. The different types of mouthguards you can get from our Pediatric dental office in Greenwood.

Custom-Fitted

The dentist will use a mold of your teeth to make the custom-fitted mouthguard. The mouthguard should fit your teeth and mouth comfortably. This type of mouthguard is relatively expensive but offers the best protection and fit. They will be made according to your needs, whether they are to be used at night for the prevention of teeth grinding or for protection during contact sports. Mouthguards Implants in Greenwood SC are of the highest quality and will perform the best job at protecting your mouth and teeth.

Stock Mouthguards

They get to the patients performed and ready to wear. They are one size because they aren’t made for your teeth specifically. Stock mouthguards rarely fit well. They are bulky and poorly fitted hence bring difficulty in breathing. Stock mouthguards don’t protect your teeth well.

Boil-and-bite

These types of protectors have a thermoplastic material. They can be shaped to fit your teeth at home. Dr. John Patangan from Kids First Dental – Greenwood will advise you on how to use the boil and bite mouthguards. You make sure the mouthguard is softened by placing it on hot water and not boiling it. You then put the already soft mouthguard to your mouth. Use your fingers to place it into the front teeth and the molars. You bite it down for about 20 seconds when you feel like it is in the right position. Then remove the device and place it in cold water. For the best fit of the mouthguard, you can reshape it by repeating the steps.

Adjustable Over the Counter Mouthguards

The adjustable night guards are such as sliding pieces that you put between your teeth when you sleep.

Can a Mouthguard Move My Teeth?

A night guard can move your teeth especially if it was not custom made to fit in your mouth. An over-the-counter will cause a shift to the back teeth due to the pressure that your jaws exert on them.

Can a Mouthguard Change My Bite?

A night guard can affect your oral health. It can cause pain in the jaw that changes your bite. Also, the pressure exerted in the jaw can permanently change your bite.

Benefits of Mouthguard

Our emergency pediatric dentist will fix the mouthguards so perfectly in the mouth which will lead to the following benefits:

• Prevent jaw and teeth pain caused by bruxism
• It promotes good sleep at night
• Help people who participate in athletic activities to avoid broken or chipped teeth, nerve damage to the teeth. Also, avoid soft tissue inside cheeks and gums.

How to Take Care of Mouthguards

• Avoid exposing your mouthguard to too much heat such as hot water. Heat can lead to a change in the shape of the mouthguard.
• Always use a brush and soapy water while cleaning it after use. Use cool water to rinse the mouthguard. Let it dry in the air
• When not in use, put your mouthguard in a vented plastic case.