Mouthguards Give Your Teeth the Protection You Need
We can provide you with a wide variety of custom-made mouthguard options to protect your teeth against tooth grinding, sports injuries, or accidental injuries caused by wearing braces or retainers.
Mouthguards for Grinders/Bruxers
Many people often grind their teeth together at night or subconsciously throughout the day. The dental term for this is “bruxism.” This puts a lot of force on the teeth, which can cause severe damage to teeth, fillings, and crowns. People grind their teeth for multiple reasons, including:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Sleep apnea
If you’ve had extensive dental work done to repair teeth grinding damage, we recommend a custom-made mouthguard to ensure that your teeth and dental work last as long as possible.
Sports Mouthguards
Injuries to the mouth and jaw are some of the most common injuries in many sports. The American Dental Association recommends that anyone who participates in the following sports wear a mouthguard to help protect your teeth and gums:
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Hockey
- Football
- Gymnastics
- Lacrosse
- Martial arts
- Racquetball
- Rugby
- Track and field
- Skateboarding
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Skydiving
- Soccer
- Surfing
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling
Mouthguards For Braces or Retainers
If you wear braces or a retainer, it is imperative you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and gums against potential injury accidentally caused by these devices.
Types of Mouthguards
There are three basic types of mouthguards to choose from:
- Pre-made mouthguards
- “Boil-and-bite” fitted mouthguards
- Custom-made mouthguards
When choosing a mouthguard, be sure to get one that:
- Resists tearing
- Fits your mouth comfortably
- Is easy to clean
- Does not interfere with your breathing
Taking Care of Your Mouthguard
It’s important to take care of your mouthguard, store it properly, keep it clean, and know when to replace it with a new one.
Here are a few simple ways to keep your mouthguard clean and working correctly:
- Gently scrub it with a toothbrush and toothpaste after each use.
- Store it in a protective case.
- Do not leave it in the sun or hot water to prevent warping or melting.
- Replace it at the start of every new sports season.
- Replace a mouthguard that’s worn or no longer fits well.
- Never wear a retainer and a mouthguard at the same time.
- If you wear braces, we can customize a mouthguard for you.
- Do not chew on or cut pieces off your mouthguard.
- Bring it to each dental checkup so we can make sure it’s still in good shape.
Get the Mouthguard That Safeguards Your Smile
Schedule an appointment at Valley Hills Dentistry in Hickory, NC, and we’ll show you how to choose and wear the mouthguard you need to keep your smile looking its best.