Various Situations Where Mouthguards Prove Beneficial for You

Mouthguards are dental devices functioning as protective barriers on your teeth, safeguarding them from injuries if you are involved in contact sports. If you grind and clench your teeth when sleeping, you can have a mouthguard for grinding teeth customized for yourself from the dentist in Bradford, ON.

Mouthguards are also helpful to battle against sleep apnea which causes you to snore loudly when sleeping. The Bradford dentist recommends that you wear a nightguard to keep your lower jaw forward to prevent your throat muscles’ collapse. The dental device created for you helps efficiently overcome sleep apnea after being diagnosed by a sleep medicine specialist.

The information in this blog could delight you to send you searching the nearest drugstore or sports goods store to grab a mouthguard for yourself. However, before you indulge in any shopping, we suggest you understand what mouthguards are and what types best suit your needs.

Various Types of Mouthguards

Stock Mouthguards

The most widely available and affordable variety is the stock mouthguard sold in most sports goods stores and drug stores. They are available in three sizes-small, medium, and large, and only cover your top teeth.

Stock mouthguards are easy to find and affordable but come with a set of downsides. Due to their limited sizes, they are uncomfortable and don’t fit correctly. Stock mouthguards make it challenging for you to speak when wearing one.

Boil and Bite Mouthguards

Boil and bite mouthguards are similar to stock mouthguards and are available in most drug stores. These are relatively inexpensive and will not set you back financially. Boil and bite mouthguards fit better than stock mouthguards making them challenging to dislodge when sleeping.

The boil and bite variety is available in one size that you can customize to fit your teeth. After purchasing one, you must boil the device until it softens before placing it over your teeth and biting down. You must try a few times before you get the best fit the following the manufacturers’ instructions.

Customized Mouthguards

The best option is to get a customized mouthguard in Bradford, ON, made by the Bradford dentist. This dental professional takes molds of your teeth and utilizes them to develop a mouthguard specifically for your teeth and mouth structure.

Customized mouthguards provide a better fit than stock mouthguards and the boil and bite variety because the dentist makes them according to your mouth’s structure.

If you clench and grind your teeth when sleeping or are affected by sleep apnea, a customized mouthguard is your best remedy against the problems affecting you. Customized mouthguards are undoubtedly expensive than the regular variety available over-the-counter. However, they offer better protection and last you longer with proper care. Many insurance providers also cover the costs of customized mouthguards.

Which Type of Mouthguard Is Best Suited for Your Needs?

When shopping for mouthguards, you come across various types looking similar to each other. However, most have different functions. If you are involved in contact sports and are at a high risk of falling and injuring your teeth, a stock mouthguard can protect your teeth and safeguard them from injuries.

In most cases, you benefit from using a stock mouthguard or a boil and bite mouthguard. However, if you are involved in high-impact sports such as boxing, you benefit from a Bradford dentist’s custom mouthguard.

Teeth Grinding

Bruxism is a condition that causes you to clench and grind your teeth when sleeping on even when awake. Bruxism is a sleep-related disorder causing various problems and resulting in jaw pain, tooth, and sore gums. Wearing a mouthguard to keep your upper and lower teeth apart to ensure they don’t damage each other is why you must consider wearing a mouthguard.

If you are unsure whether you need a mouthguard for bruxism, you can try the boil and bite variety for a few days to determine whether it provides any relief. If the boil and bite variety is helpful, you can discuss your problem with your dentist to have a customized mouthguard created for you.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleep-related disorder causing you to stop breathing when you sleep temporarily. The temporary interruptions in breathing prevent your brain from receiving the oxygen it needs in killing the risks of heart disease and strokes. Sleep apnea also causes you to snore loudly, leaving you exhausted during the day.

Remedies for sleep apnea are available with physicians who provide the uncomfortable CPAP machine you can wear on your face when sleeping. If you cannot adhere to the traditional CPAP device, your dentist offers a nightguard helping you keep your lower jaw in a forward position to prevent your throat muscles from collapsing.

If you need a mouthguard for any reason, you may think walking down to the drugstore is all that is required. However, we recommend you consider the information in this blog before deciding which type of mouthguard you want for your specific need.