Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

Whether you engage in high-impact sports such as boxing or you grind your teeth at night, a mouthguard can help you protect your teeth against damage. However, a trip to your local pharmacy or sports equipment store may present you with a confusing array of options. Before you buy a mouthguard, consider these three points.

1. Sports Mouthguards Differ From Dental Night Guards

Different mouthguards serve different purposes. Sports mouthguards protect the teeth against blows to the face or jaw. To achieve this goal, manufacturers deliberately overbuild them by using thick designs and stiff materials. While this combination can prove effective in sports, it may prove too cumbersome for use at night.

Dental night guards protect against bruxism, or chronic tooth grinding. If you grind your teeth in your sleep, you can wear down your tooth enamel and fatigue your jaws. A typical dental night guard features thin, flexible material that can't protect against impacts but works well to cushion the teeth against each other.

2. Mouthguards Come in Many Forms

Both sports mouth guards and dental night guards come in a few basic form factors. The cheapest sports mouthguards consist of a one-size-fits-all piece of curved plastic. However, you can also get mouthguards that conform to your teeth once you heat them and bite down on them. You can even get custom-fitted sports mouthguards.

Dental night guards also come in these different form factors. However, the thinner, softer materials used in over-the-counter products will wear out over time after constant exposure to overnight tooth grinding. Dentists can produce custom dental night guards that fit your teeth perfectly while offering superior durability.

3. Bruxism May Require More Than a Mouthguard

Although a dental night guard can help minimize wear, cracking, and other dental damage caused by bruxism, it cannot remedy the underlying bruxism itself. The more firmly you get this condition under control, the longer your night guard will last and the less jaw fatigue you'll feel during waking hours.

Bruxism can occur due to tooth misalignment. If your teeth need shifting or straightening, your dentist may refer you to an orthodontist for braces. You may also benefit from permanent crowns that reinforce and restore cracked or worn teeth. Muscle relaxants and stress management techniques can help with tension-related bruxism.

Don't rely on guesswork when you need to select a dental night guard. Schedule a consultation with your dentist to discuss the many options available so you can give your precious teeth the protection they need.