If you grind your teeth at night or play a contact sport, you’ll want to talk to your Troy family dentist about how to protect your smile. Oral appliances (like night guards and mouth guards) are important for maintaining the structural integrity of your teeth.
Certain activities in your life may put you at a higher risk for dental injury, which would make you a candidate for an oral appliance.
In this blog post, we examine the differences between night and mouth guards, so you can determine which best fits your needs. If you think you would benefit from either a bite appliance, don’t hesitate to bring it up during your next dentist appointment.
Night Guards
Do you grind your teeth at night? Over time, this repetitive motion can damage your teeth. If you are not sure whether or not you are grinding your teeth at night, some common symptoms include worn tooth enamel, jaw pain, and headaches when you wake up.
Unless you start wearing a night guard, over time, can cause permanent damage to your smile. During your first appointment, your family dentist will take an impression of your teeth and send it to the lab where your night guard will be made. During your second appointment, your dentist will check the fit of the night guard so you’ll be able to breathe and sleep comfortably.
While wearing a might be seen as an inconvenience, we feel that protecting your smile is worth the hassle. By wearing your night guard every time you sleep, you are safeguarding your teeth against surface damage that could grow into a larger issue.
For example, patients with severe cases have had teeth fall out due to the pressure of teeth grinding. A dental night guard protects your smile by forming a protective layer between your upper and lower teeth.
Mouth Guards
Mouth guards, like oral sleep appliances, are meant to protect your teeth. The only difference is that a mouth guard will protect your teeth from being damaged while playing contact sports. Your sports dentist will be able to create mouth guards for football, hockey, boxing, and other contact sports.
Your child may require a special mouth guard for braces if they are undergoing orthodontic treatment. That way, your child’s brackets and wires won’t slice the gums, cheeks, and tongue upon impact.
While athletes who play contact sports are the most likely candidates for mouth guards, participants in noncontact sports may also reap benefits. There are many sports which do not fit under the category of contact sports, but still pose a risk for sports dental injury.
Mountain biking and ice skating are such examples. Avoid having chipped, loose, or missing teeth in the future by asking your sports injury dentist if a mouth guard is right for you.
Schedule an Appointment
Our will be able to help prevent damage to your smile through the proper oral appliances like mouth guards and night guards. To learn more call our Troy dentists at (248) 528-2270 to schedule an appointment.
Related Blog Posts
6 Facts about Your Sports Mouth Guard
How Night Guards Stop Teeth Grinding
Living with TMJ | Mosaic Dental
This blog post has been updated.
Teeth Whitening