We Know Mouth Guards
We Know Mouth Guards
Mouth guards are special appliances that you wear over your teeth to protect them from damage. Mouth guards are typically designed and manufactured by our denturist at Summit Denture Clinic for patients who play sports that have the potential of causing injuries, such as soccer, basketball, football, and hockey. Athletes, boxers, and anyone else who’s at risk of damaging their teeth should wear a mouth guard for protection.
Mouth Guards for Teeth Grinding
If you wake up every day with a headache or sore jaw, there’s a good chance you’re clenching or grinding your teeth at night. Clenching and grinding your teeth can lead to dental damage, including cracking, chipping, and breaking. Our denturist can fit you with a comfortable night mouth guard to prevent damage to your teeth.
Mouth Guards for Sports
Whether you’re participating in sports or engaging in other activities that may cause mouth injuries, wearing a mouth guard is a smart move. A mouth guard will protect your teeth and gums from damage.
Even low-impact sports can cause damage to your teeth if you experience a blow to the face. Mouth guards are especially important for protecting the developing teeth of kids and teens.
The Benefits of Mouth Guards
Mouth guards are beneficial for protecting your teeth from injury. When your teeth are damaged, it can affect your well-being and confidence, changing the way you speak and affecting your ability to chew properly. Teeth damage can also cause sensitivity.
Mouth guards are often recommended if you play sports that have the potential to cause injuries, such as soccer, basketball, football, and hockey. Night mouth guards are also recommended if you grind your teeth at night, a condition known as bruxism.
Types of Mouth Guards
Custom-Made Mouth Guards
Custom mouth guards are ideal because our denturist can design them to fit your mouth perfectly. They’re recommended for athletes who play contact sports, like football or basketball. You can easily get a custom-made mouth guard by scheduling an appointment with our denturist.
Boil and Bite Mouth Guards
Boil and bite mouth guards can be molded to ensure a good fit. You can boil the mouth guard in a pot of boiling water to soften it and then place it in your mouth to change its shape. However, this type of mouth guard may not provide the same level of protection as a custom mouth guard.
Stock Mouth Guards
Stock mouth guards are pre-molded, ready-to-wear mouth guards. They are made from thermoplastic material and come in a variety of colors and sizes. However, stock mouth guards are not customized or moldable and may be uncomfortable to wear and not provide a good level of protection.
Night Guards
Night guards are oral appliances worn during sleep to prevent tooth wear and damage caused by grinding or clenching. Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, can cause fractures, cracks, and other types of damage to your teeth. Bruxism is sometimes caused by stress, but can also be a side effect of sleep conditions like sleep apnea.
At Summit Denture Clinic, we design custom-made night guards to fit your unique bite and ensure maximum efficiency and protection against damage caused by teeth grinding and clenching.
How Does a Night Guard Protect Your Teeth?
A night guard is a custom-made oral appliance worn at night to protect your teeth from damage caused by nighttime teeth grinding. During sleep, the jaw muscles tend to relax and may clench together naturally.
If you suffer from nighttime teeth grinding or clenching, the pressure applied to your teeth can lead to severe damage. A night guard keeps your teeth from touching and rubbing against each other. It prevents tooth sensitivity and damage to the enamel caused by teeth grinding.
Types of Night Guards
There are two types of night guards available: stock and custom.
A stock night guard is the least expensive option. Because it is not customized to your unique bite, it provides a low level of protection and can be uncomfortable to wear.
A custom night guard provides better protection against wear and damage and is more durable as we design it to fit your mouth perfectly and manufacture it from high-quality dental-grade materials.
How Are Night Guards Made?
We create custom night guards by using an impression of your teeth. We manufacture them from soft materials like acrylic plastic that are easily molded to fit your bite and ensure comfort.
At Summit Denture Clinic, we use state-of-the-art equipment to capture precise impressions of your teeth and mouth. This allows us to design custom night guards that are more efficient against damage caused by teeth grinding and fit much more comfortably than stock night guards.
Night Guard vs. Mouth Guard: What’s the Difference?
A night guard is a type of dental appliance that is worn at night. It acts as a protective barrier between the teeth to prevent grinding (bruxism) or clenching. In some cases, bruxism can be controlled with lifestyle changes, but most patients require night guards to stop the grinding and properly protect their teeth against damage.
Bruxism can cause severe tooth wear, fractures, jaw pain, tooth sensitivity, and headaches among other symptoms.
A mouth guard, on the other hand, is worn when playing sports or engaging in other recreational activities. They protect the teeth and gums from injury.
