When you suit up to play baseball, hockey, or wrestling, do you remember your mouthguard? Actually, the American Dental Association recommends you wear a mouthguard when participating in most sports. This includes gymnastics, weightlifting, and skiing, regardless of your skill level.
You should wear a mouthguard to protect yourself, even if it means wearing it at night to stop grinding.
Is a Mouthguard Necessary?
Sports – If you feel a mouthguard isn’t necessary because you’re just playing your sport recreationally, you’d be among the many that have a high risk of injury to their teeth, mouths, and jaws. That’s right; a mouthguard doesn’t only protect against getting a tooth knocked out. They also protect you from broken, chipped, and cracked teeth, a dislocated jaw, breaking your jaw, and cuts on your lips, tongue, and cheeks. Your fun game of backyard football with your friends has turned into an emergency room visit that you could have avoided if you’d worn a mouthguard from your Rochester Hills dentist.
A mouthguard absorbs the energy from the hit you’re about to take. It acts as a cushion, preventing teeth from slamming together and the energy traveling through the rest of your body.
Bruxism – Sometimes, it’s necessary to protect your teeth from a habit, like grinding while you sleep or unconsciously when you’re awake. Grinding your teeth, called bruxism, is a common condition that many don’t realize until they get headaches or see and feel the wear on their teeth. During the day, it’s easier to know you’re grinding and change your behavior. But at night, you may require a mouthguard.
TMJ – Many people who have TMJ also have bruxism. Temporomandibular joint disorder occurs when your jaw is misaligned. The misalignment often causes discomfort and, in turn, teeth grinding. Rochester Hills TMJ treatment starts with a mouthguard, regardless of grinding. The mouthguard holds your jaw in its optimal position while you sleep. After a time, you can continue to wear the mouthguard to correct the problem, or you can get a full mouth reconstruction from a cosmetic dentist and negate the need for a mouthguard while sleeping.
Sleep Apnea – Obstructive sleep apnea is another reason why you might need a “mouthguard.” In this case, it’s called an oral appliance. You wear your oral appliance anytime you’re sleeping to hold your airway open.
Benefits of Getting Your Mouthguard from a Dentist
Looking at some of the above reasons why a mouthguard might be necessary, it’s easy to see that some require a mouthguard from a dentist, like TMJ and sleep apnea. Though we can see why you might consider an over-the-counter mouthguard for teeth grinding and sports, getting one from your dentist in Rochester Hills is always the better choice. Here are the benefits of getting your mouthguard from a dentist.
- Better protection: A mouthguard from your dentist will always give you the best protection. Since they’re customizable, you can be sure that all your teeth are covered. Additionally, you’ll know that the material protecting them is thick enough to absorb energy and safe to be in your mouth.
- More comfort: Not all mouthguards are equal. If you’re wearing it while playing sports, you may not feel that comfort is of the utmost importance. But what if you’re wearing it to prevent grinding? Wearing an uncomfortable mouthguard while you sleep will ensure that you don’t sleep. A nighttime mouthguard from your dentist is more comfortable.
- High durability: How often will you have to replace a cheap mouthguard? More often than one that is durable. Like a helmet, sports mouthguards will lose their effectiveness over time. In the long run, you’ll spend less money if you have to replace it less often.
- Minimal interference: This is a big one. Maybe you’ve had braces as an adult, or perhaps you had them when you were a kid. Either way, someone has spent the big bucks for your teeth. An over-the-counter mouthguard isn’t fit your mouth, and it could move your teeth. Besides the possibility of crooked teeth, it could hold your jaw in a way that causes TMJ or sleep apnea. It’s better to avoid that altogether and go with a mouthguard from your dentist’s office in Rochester Hills.
- Allows for customization: This one is a no-brainer. If you get a mouthguard from the drugstore and don’t like it, you’ll have to buy a new one and hope you like it. You’ll keep going on this trend until you find one you like. If you get one from your dentist, you’ll be able to take it back in for customization if it doesn’t fit right. Additionally, if your mouthguard is for grinding, you can decide if you’d rather have a bottom or top guard, depending on your comfort.
Get Your Mouthguard in Rochester Hills
Your dental office in Rochester Hills, MI, is the perfect place to get your new mouthguard. With a cosmetic dentist and restorative dentist like Dr. Matthew Wolfe, you can be sure that he will customize your mouthguard for comfort, be durable, provide the best protection, and keep your teeth looking great! Get your mouthguard in Rochester Hills today. Call (248) 656-2020 or make an appointment online.
