It's essential to keep your mouth healthy to avoid tooth decay and loss, which may be uncomfortable, expensive, and have a negative impact on your overall health. Using dental guards and appliances near you is one approach to shielding teeth from damage.
What are Dental Guards?
Dental guards, commonly referred to as mouthguards or nightguards, are plastic appliances that are put specifically over the teeth to protect them from damage. They can be worn at night to safeguard teeth from grinding and clenching or during contact sports to prevent injury.
Types of Dental Guards
There are three common types of nightguards:
Stock Mouthguards
You may buy these ready-made, one-size-fits-all guards online or at sporting goods retailers. Although they are the cheapest alternative, they do not provide a good fit or sufficient protection.
Boil and Bite Mouthguards
Additionally, these guards are accessible online or at sporting goods retailers. The material can be softened by boiling it in water before being bitted down to provide a tailored fit. They still do not offer the best protection, despite being an improvement over stock mouthguards.
Custom-Fitted Mouthguards
The most efficient approach is to use these guards, which are created by a dental lab or dentist near you. They are made to precisely suit the wearer's mouth, offering the best possible comfort and protection.
Who can Consider Mouth Guards?
Following are a few instances of individuals who can consider using mouthguards:
- Athletes
- Children
- People with bruxism
- People with the temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
- People undergoing orthodontic treatment
Preventing Tooth Damage and Loss with Dental Guards
Trauma, decay, and periodontal disease are just a few of the causes of tooth damage and loss. However, bruxism, a disease in which a person grinds or clenches their teeth while asleep, is one of the most typical causes of tooth damage and loss. Over time, this disease may result in dental sensitivity, cracked or broken teeth, and even tooth loss.
Dental guards can protect teeth from harm in a number of ways, including:
Sports Injury Prevention
Sports frequently result in tooth loss and damage. In fact, the most common orofacial injury experienced during athletics is a dental injury. Dental guards come in handy in this situation. A dental guard worn while playing sports can shield teeth from damage brought on by collisions, falls, and other mishaps. A dental guard can prevent fractures, chipping, and even tooth loss by absorbing the force of contact.
Teeth Grinding and Clenching Prevention
Another common cause of tooth loss and damage is bruxism. A person with this condition frequently grinds or clenches their teeth when they are sleeping. Bruxism, over time, can erode teeth, resulting in chips and fissures, and even cause tooth loss. By creating a barrier between the upper and lower teeth, a dental guard helps shield teeth from damage caused by bruxism. This reduces the force of the grinding and guards against tooth damage.
Protection for Dental Restorations
Dental guards can guard against damage from sports or teeth grinding for dental restorations such as crowns, bridges, and veneers.
Dental guards can provide additional advantages in addition to safeguarding teeth from damage and loss. For instance, they can assist in easing the signs and symptoms of TMJ difficulties. TMJ is a disorder that results in inflammation of the joints that attach the jawbone to the skull, which is painful and uncomfortable. By easing the strain on these joints, a dental guard can help alleviate discomfort and other symptoms.
Dental guards are essential for preventing tooth loss and damage. Wearing a dental guard can help safeguard your teeth and avert significant dental issues, whether you are an athlete or have bruxism. Ask your dentist about our dental guards and appliances in Cambie and the type of dental guard that will work best for you if you're considering getting one.
No comments yet