Types of Mouthguards
Mouthguards for Grinding
Who hasn't woken up from a bad dream or a poor night's sleep to discover their jaw feels a little sore? When this becomes a regular occurrence, it may be time to speak with a dental professional about a nightguard. Your dental professional may even notice your enamel showing signs of wear or see chips and cracks in your fillings. These are typically the first signs that you grind or clench your teeth at night.
Grinding or clenching, also known as bruxism, is often caused by stress, sleep disorders, a misaligned bite, acid reflux, or some medication side effect. Smoking and drinking alcohol or caffeine beverages also increase the likelihood of grinding. While it can be challenging to diagnose the exact reason for grinding or clenching your teeth at night (who doesn't experience stress?), addressing the habit early on is vital. Long-term teeth grinding left untreated can wear your enamel down to your teeth' second layer, the softer dentin material.
Repairing broken fillings and making any necessary bite adjustments is the first step to treating grinding or clenching. After that, a dentist-recommended mouthguard (sometimes referred to as a nightguard or splint) can be helpful to wear while you sleep. It acts as a barrier between your teeth, so your enamel doesn't wear down as you grind. Furthermore, it can even help you break the grinding habit itself!
Mouthguards for TMD Problems
If you've ever experienced consistent jaw discomfort while chewing or noticed a loss of mobility when trying to open your mouth, you're not alone. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research estimates that over 10 million Americans have temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems. Popping or clicking sounds accompanied by pain or dull headaches are also symptoms associated with a TMJ complication. While there's no way to know your TMJ disorder's exact cause, it usually stems from arthritis, genetics, or jaw injuries.
The first line of treatment is wearing a custom-made mouthguard or splint at night. This allows your jaw muscles to recover while you sleep and protects your teeth from wearing down. Because of TMJ complexity, splints are always custom-made by the dental professional who is treating the problem.
Mouthguards for Sports
Whether you're a weekend soccer player or your child just joined a hockey team, protecting your family's teeth from injury should be a top priority. Most mouth-related sports injuries involve broken or chipped teeth (most often the central incisors), fractured tooth roots, and cuts to the lips and tissue inside of the mouth. But did you know that the risk of a sports injury is significantly reduced when wearing a well-fitting mouthguard? A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that college students who wore mouthguards while playing sports were less likely to experience a sports-related concussion.
The soft absorbing material that makes up mouthguards helps cushion a blow to your teeth. If you have braces, you're especially vulnerable to a sports-related issue. Soft tissue injuries from your braces coming in contact with your mouth tissue are reason enough to wear a mouthguard made to fit over your braces. And you don't want to run the risk of damaging your braces either, which would require attention from your dental professional.
Always check with a coach or league referee to determine their mouthguard requirements before making your dental appointment. Sports mouthguards are often replaced more than others due to your child's mouth still growing and the mouthguard's natural wear and tear over a sports season. And don't forget to bring your mouthguard along for your six-month dental checkup. You'll be ahead of the game by taking this preventative measure of having a professional confirm it still fits!
Mouthguards for Sleep Disorders
It may seem strange that adding more things inside your mouth could help with sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea. But incorporating a mandibular advancement device into your nightly routine can be a beneficial tool for getting a better night's sleep. By wearing this mouthguard on the lower arch, the tongue and jaw reposition to keep the airway open. People who snore loudly or have nighttime bruxism may also find that this device helps ease their symptoms.
