Mouth Guards
As an athlete, you need the best gear possible. We offer top quality athletic mouth guards to protect your teeth whenever you practice or compete.
Mouth Guards and Night Guards
A mouth guard should be considered an essential piece of equipment for every athlete who participates in contact sports and activities—adults and children both. A mouth guard cushions the blow when you are hit and can prevent serious injuries that may result in a lifetime of oral health problems. Our mouth guards are custom-made from a lightweight material that is both comfortable and effective and can be easily inserted and removed when needed. They do not interfere with your regular breathing or speaking.
Night guards are similar to mouth guards but are worn while sleeping to prevent damage from a disorder that causes you to unknowingly clench and grind your teeth while you are asleep. This disorder is called bruxism and leaving it untreated can result in teeth fractures, breakages, headaches, and jaw pain, including symptoms caused by TMJ disorders.
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What are the types of dental mouth guards?
There are three types of mouth guards, which are listed below:
- Stock mouth protectors that come ready to wear. These are inexpensive and can be bought at most sporting goods stores. However, you cannot adjust their fit, they tend to be bulky and sometimes make breathing and talking difficult. Additionally, these types of mouth guards provide minimal protection.
- Boil and bite mouth protectors can also be bought at most sporting goods stores and offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. This type of mouthguard is placed in hot water to soften and then placed in the mouth to shape around the teeth.
- Custom-fitted mouth guards are designed individually and made in the dental office based on your dentists’ instructions. Your dentists will first make an impression of your teeth and then mold the mouth guard over the model. This type of mouth guard provides the most protection and comfort.
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What are options for treating TMJ?
TMJ is a disorder of the joints in your jaw—the temporal-mandibular joint. TMJ disorders often cause pain in your neck and jaw areas and can result in a clicking noise when you open or close your mouth. A damaged TMJ also can limit your jaw’s range of motion. You can do several things to help alleviate a TMJ disorder, including wearing a temporary night guard, avoiding sharp movements of your jaw, icing your jaw to prevent inflammation, modifying your diet to include softer foods that require less chewing, and practicing relaxation, massage and light stretching and strengthening techniques to reduce tension in your jaw.
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Why are mouth guards important in sports?
There are several reasons wearing a mouth guard when playing sports is important. First, mouth guards protect against displacing teeth as they help distribute force over all of your teeth, which prevents one, or two, teeth from bearing the brunt of the blow. They can also protect against injuries to soft tissues and prevent jaw and teeth fractures. And, ultimately, mouth guards may help prevent concussions as the padding could lessen the force between the upper and lower rows of teeth and lessen the force of the jaw as it pushes on the skull.
Interested in a Custom Mouth Guard?
If you have any questions about mouth guards or for a consultation—contact us or schedule your appointment using the link below, or explore the numerous other dental services we offer.
