Whenever you play sports, there is a chance you can lose teeth or injure your mouth. However, not many wear a mouth guard while playing contact sports.
The mouth guard can also be worn when you have teeth grinding or sleep apnea.
One not-so-popular use of a mouthguard is also in helping with snoring.
There are three main types, used for different purposes.
If you usually play sports, clench or grind your teeth, have sleep apnea or snore, this article is for you.
Keep reading to know how a mouthguard can protect your teeth and improve your condition significantly.
Why Do You Need It?
Anyone who plays contact sports suffers from sleep apnea, grinds their teeth and snore loudly in sleep can benefit from using a mouthguard.
Sports such as:
- boxing
- ice hockey
- football
- lacrosse
- field hockey
- basketball
- skating
- mount biking
So these sports and recreational activities both can pose a risk of injury.
Even non-contact sports can hurt your teeth. Therefore, it is important to wear it when you are having such activities.
Otherwise, you may have a chipped tooth or a broken one. There can be tooth loss as well as nerve damage.
Also not wearing any protection of your mouth may not only hurt your teeth but also your tongue, lips and soft tissues present in your mouth.
Similarly, if you or your child grind your teeth at night, wearing a mouthguard becomes necessary.
This can be a bite splint or a nocturnal bite plate that prevents your upper and lower teeth from rubbing against each other.
These are generally only for the upper teeth. However, if you wear braces and need to cover all of them then your dentist can order a custom-made one for both upper and lower teeth.
While choosing a mouthguard, ensure that it is comfortable, durable, easy to clean and wear, can resist tears and scratches, also does not hamper your speech or breathing.
You have 3 types to choose from.
Let’s find out about them more below!
Mouth Guard Types
Boil and Bite
These are OTC mouthguards that you can find in your nearby pharmacy or drugstore.
This is why they are also inexpensive.
They are available in only one size. However, you can fit it into your mouth and teeth.
As the name suggests, you first need to boil the mouthguard. Once the thermoplastic material of the mouthguard softens, remove it from the water and place it on your front teeth to bite it down.
Follow the instructions in order to make the best fit.
This way you can turn this mouthguard to fit any teeth with the help of finger pressure and that of the tongue too.
Stock Mouth Protectors
As the name suggests. this type of mouthguard is available in sporting goods stores and pharmacies.
They are readily available and inexpensive.
The stock mouth protectors have different sizes, small, medium, large to completely fit on your teeth. Though, they are only made for your upper teeth.
That said, there is no guarantee that these fixed sizes will fit your teeth.
Hence, they can be uncomfortable to wear and you may have to adjust them regularly.
Their fit will not be tight hence, the protection will also be limited.
Plus, they are bulky so it is hard to even speak or breathe with them.
Hence, they are not the best option as their protection is lacking.
So, your dentist may not recommend this. What they may recommend is…
Custom Made Mouthguard
This is the best way to get complete protection from a mouthguard.
Your dentist will first take a mold of your teeth and then make a mouthguard that fits the mold according to the structure of the teeth and your mouth.
You will not dislodge it while playing or sleeping as it fits perfectly according to your own teeth.
Plus, the fit is better than that of a boil and bite mouth protector.
Hence, they are the best option for sleep apnea and teeth grinding. More on that below.
The only downside is that these are more expensive than the other two options.
However, as the fit is quite accurate, it is worth spending on custom-made options than those available OTC.
What Mouth Guard Should You Choose?
While Playing Sports
When there is a high risk of falling or injuring yourself through a collision in the sport your play, it is inevitable to wear a mouthguard.
However, when you wear a mouthguard it can prevent your teeth from injuring your tongue or lips whenever there is any hit or collision.
High impact sports such as boxing, wrestling, ice hockey or football can result in a huge damage if you fall.
While you can use both boil and bit or stock mouth protectors, the former have a better fit.
Hence, they are more suitable for high-impact sports. Though if you only have to use it once or twice, you can go for a stock OTC mouthguard as it is cheaper.
Sleep Apnea
This serious sleep disorder may even stop you from breathing temporarily while you are sleeping.
This small moment can be devastating as it may prevent your brain from receiving oxygen resulting in a heart attack or stroke.
Plus it will result in snoring.
A CPAP machine helps to open the airways of people suffering from sleep apnea that lets them sleep better.
However, a mouthguard can work in a similar manner as it opens the airways by pushing the lower jaw and tongue forward.
Moreover, some mouth protectors come with a strap that goes around your head and chin in order to adjust your law jaw position.
Only custom-made mouthguards can help with sleep apnea, stock or boil and bite will not cut it.
Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding can result in constant pain in your teeth and jaw, sore gums while also damaging the enamel and shape of the canines.
However, when you wear a mouthguard, it can keep your upper and lower teeth separated so that they don’t hence, hence grind or clench anymore.
The mouthguard for bruxism should be a custom fit. Stock mouth protectors may not fit you completely so it becomes difficult to keep them in one place.
While sleeping it is a nuisance so you may want to remove them to have a comfortable sleep.
While boil and bite have a better fit than stock ones, they can become weak after several uses.
For teeth grinding you need to use your mouthguard daily. Hence, a custom-made mouthguard will stay in place and shape.
In the beginning, you may use a boil and bite mouthguard to test if it works for you to later invest in a custom one.
Snoring
You can reduce snoring by wearing a mouthguard. Surprising isn’t it?
Snoring happens because of the vibrations of the soft tissue present in your upper airways.
In order to reduce it, you will have to keep your airway open.
This works similarly to how a mouth protector works for sleep apnea. The airways open because you pull your lower jaw forward.
While there are several OTC mouth protectors to prevent snoring, it is best to consult your dentist and get one custom-made.
However, they may also recommend some other stock or boil and bite protector that worked for their other patients.
How To Care for Your Mouthguard?
If you are wearing a mouthguard regularly, then you should also ensure it is hygienic enough to go on your teeth.
Brush and floss your teeth before you begin to put on your mouthguard. This way no particles will be stuck in your mouth protector causing bacteria.
Rinse it with cool water or even your mouthwash before you put it in your mouth and after you remove it. Do not use hot water as it has the capacity to warp its shape.
After you are done using the mouth protector do not forget to brush it with a toothbrush and toothpaste. However, do not use abrasive toothpaste harshly.
Keep checking your mouth protector for any damage, crack or holes. This will mean you need to immediately replace it with a new one.
When not in use, store it in a container that has some ventilation. This will allow it to dry out before you use it again next time.
Do not let any pets go near the container that stores the mouthguard.
Also, bring your mouthguard to your dental visits. Your dentist will check whether you need a replacement or it still works properly. They will also see if it fits you.
If there are signs of any wear or tear you need to replace them. Nonetheless, you should be replacing them every two to three years.
However, if you use stock or boil and boil mouthguards then they need more frequent replacements because they will become brittle.
Finally,
Wear a mouth guard if you need it while playing sports or having conditions like bruxism, sleep apnea or snoring.
You can also wear them over your braces if you play sports with them. Protect your teeth with these whenever you play sports.
