Oral Appliances and Mouth Guards
Most people think that dental care is all about fillings, cleanings, and root canals. While those are all important parts of providing good dental care, there's much more to the whole process than that. One important part of providing good dental care is focusing on prevention and protection of oral health.
When you meet with your cosmetic dentist, you can learn a lot more about these issues in greater detail. Right now, we'd like to focus on one particular part of the preventative element of dental wellness: the use of mouth guards and dental guards.
What are mouth guards?
Mouth guards broadly refer to mouthpieces that people wear in order to protect their teeth from harm or other kinds of potential injury/damage. They come in many different forms. Some are stock or store-bought and ready to wear, while other mouth guards are customized specifically for the patient. If the mouth guard is going to be worn frequently or for prolonged periods of time, the best option is usually to get a customized mouth guard.
Let's look at a few common uses for mouth guards.
Mouth Guards and Athletics
If you play contact sports (e.g., football, rugby, hockey) or combat sports (e.g., boxing, mixed martial arts), a mouth guard is an excellent option to consider. In fact, some would say that mouth guards are essential for these activities.
Why Sports Mouth Guards are a Good Idea
When wearing a mouth guard, an athlete is able to avoid major injury to the teeth and gums. This prevents the need for getting dental crowns and other sorts of dental restorations following a serious blow to the mouth.
Customized Mouth Guards Can Make a Big Difference
Since athletes will be frequently wearing mouth guards, it's a good idea for athletes to consider getting customized mouth guards of some kind. These can be designed by your dentist in order to ensure the best possible comfort when in place without undermining overall protection and safety.
Mouth Guards for Teeth Grinding
Another common use for mouth guards is to help treat teeth grinding (aka bruxism). When people grind their teeth at night, it can cause major tooth damage as well damage to the jaw joint. This means cracks and chips and tooth structure and a potential TMJ disorder as well. You may know TMJ disorders by the clicking, popping, locking, and pain in the jaw joint.
Why a Teeth Grinding Night Guard is a Good Idea
By getting a mouth guard to address teeth grinding, patients will be able to protect their teeth from damage and reduce the amount of strain on the jaw joint. The teeth grinding mouth guard accomplishes both by preventing full contact of the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch. This is usually only part of the teeth grinding treatment, however, as orthodontic care and other therapies play an important part in addressing the root cause of the teeth grinding.
Learn More About Your Dental Care Options
If you would like to learn more about all of your options for advanced dental care treatment, be sure to contact our Kansas City dental care center today. The entire team here looks forward to meeting you in person and helping you achieve the best possible dental health results.