If you’re seeking a dentist in Chestermere, the chances are you discovered that a mouth guard is an essential part of protecting your oral health, even if you didn’t realize it before. Mouth guards may seem overly simplistic, but they can play a vital role in protecting oral health, and most people don’t realize how important they are for dental protection. If you’re a sportsperson, a tooth grinder, or just want to protect that pretty smile, wilfully protecting the smile with mouth guards in Chestermere is the best practice to prevent dental injury. It seems silly, but considering how mouth guards protect teeth from chips or fractures, and even jaw strain definitely makes a big difference, for example.
What is a Mouth Guard?
A mouth guard is a detachable plastic or rubber device that fits over your teeth to act as a protective barrier between the upper and lower teeth. The mouth guard will absorb the impact and refract the force through the material during a rapid impact from being hit in the face, falling, or heavy biting pressure when grinding teeth. Dentist near you typically prefer in their recommendations to custom mouth guards for the most comfort and protection, as the mouth guard is custom made to the contours of your teeth and jaw.
Types of Dental Mouth Guards
There are a variety of types of dental guards available, with each one meant for differing needs:
- Stock Mouth Guards – This is a pre-formed mouth guard that is ready to wear. They can be inexpensive, but they do not always fit snugly, and they can feel bulky and awkward.
- Boil-and-Bite Mouth Guards – These are made of thermoplastic material that is softened in hot water and then is fitted to your teeth. They provide a better fit than stock mouth guards but are less precise than custom mouth guards.
- Custom Mouth Guards – These mouth guards come made by your dentist, and provide a higher level of protection and comfort. They are made for athletes, people who grind their teeth, or just anyone who wanted to have some dental protection regularly.
Benefits of Mouth Guards
Mouth guards are not only beneficial because they help in avoiding chipped teeth. They can:
- Guard against tooth fractures, loose teeth and mouth cuts due to sports or traumas.
- Reduce the risk of jaw injury and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders including injuries that happen due to grinding or clenching.
- Protect your general oral health by preventing the damage to your teeth.
- Give parents, athletes, or anyone who may face dental trauma, an extra sense of comfort.
How Mouth Guards Protect Teeth
Energy absorption and force deflection are the main mechanisms of protection of teeth by mouth guards. A mouth guard that fits properly will absorb the impact force created by a blow to the face and evenly distribute the force within the mouth guard rather than to the teeth, gums and/or jaw. Mouth guards are effective at reducing the incarceration of broken, fractured or cracked teeth.For those with bruxism (i.e., grinding), a night guard helps cushion the jaw and protect enamel from excessive wear while helping to relieve muscle tension.
Mouth guards may also help in reduction of soft tissue injury by protecting sharp edges of teeth and creating a shield between the teeth and tongue and cheeks. It comes in quite handy when it comes to athletes who are part of contact sports (e.g., hockey, football, martial arts) and some accidents might quite often happen.
Choosing the Right Mouth Guard
Your choice in mouth guard will ultimately depend on your activity level and/or dental needs. A stock or boil and bite mouth guard provides suitable protection for infrequent usage. The best kind of protection and comfort can be obtained with custom mouth guards prepared by your dentist. Periodic check-ups or cleaning by your dentist can help in checking whether your custom guard still fits properly as well because over time your teeth and jaw can grow.
Conclusion
Protecting your teeth doesn’t have to be complicated. By investing in a high-quality mouth guard, you can renovate the chances of sustaining dental injuries, prevent strain to your jaw when asleep, or help preserve your smiling face. If you are looking for mouth guards near me and do not know what would suit your needs best, East Chestermere Dental can help. Our skilled dentist in Chestermere is able to create a tailored mouth guard for you and your family with maximum comfort and protection. That is why you should plan in advance, and appoint a consultation where you may not only find out whether a mouth guard suits you, before an accident strikes, and may see how much good a mouth guard can do you altogether.