Mouth Guard and Night Guard
Mouthguard and Nightguard in Salisbury, Paralowie, Elizabeth South, Elizabeth Vale, Parafield Gardens, Brahma Lodge, Salisbury Park, Salisbury North, Salisbury Plain, Salisbury South, Salisbury Downs, Northern Adelaide SA
MOUTHGUARD & NIGHTGUARD
Why use a Mouth Guard?
Children love sports, and we need to encourage them to lead a healthy active lifestyle.
Many of the most popular sports, however, are either contact sports or use a stick, bat or racket. Dental injuries from these sports can be horrific. Injuries can include:
> Knocked out teeth
> Severely broken teeth
> Broken jawbone
Treatments can end up very expensive, and long term as teeth do not heal up or re-grow. Teeth may need fillings, caps, root canal treatment or even may need to be replaced with implants when the child is older. Prevention of these injuries is far easier than dealing with the long-term consequences.
Accurate mouth guard impressions are essential!
Mouth guards will prevent the injury or dramatically reduce its impact.
It is important that mouth guards are made using an accurate impression the teeth. Store bought mouth guards will not have the necessary protection. The mouth guard has to sufficiently cover the gums and teeth and extend far enough under the lip to be effective.
If you are sporty or have a child who is keen on sports, organise a mouth guard for them and encourage them to wear it at all times while playing sports. This could be your biggest investment in their future dental health.
What is a Night guard?
Some people clench and grind their teeth when they are asleep, or even during the day. The majority are generally unaware that they are doing this. This habit can cause significant damage to the teeth and jaws. Teeth can become heavily worn over time, broken or cracked; and both the teeth and jaws can present with acute or chronic pain.A night guard places a soft cushion between the upper and lower teeth, preventing them from grinding against each other. It reduces your risk of tooth wear and potential future dental complications.
Your TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is the joint that allows movements of your upper and lower jaws relative to each other. Bruxism (teeth grinding) and clenching can lead to overactive muscle tension in the TMJ, causing headaches, pain through the neck and shoulders, or painful TMJs. Symptoms include popping and clicking of the jaw joints upon opening or closing, or pain in the joint.
A custom fitted night guard can stop the habitual grinding and clenching and alleviate symptoms.
Do You Need a Night Guard?
If you find yourself regularly waking up with dull headaches, neck and shoulder pains or stiff jaws, the chances are that you may be grinding or clenching your teeth in your sleep. There is great benefit from wearing a night guard for these patients. Heavily worn or frequently broken teeth may also indicate bruxism. Consult your dentist for advice on a custom fitted night guard.