Mouthguards protect your gums, teeth, tongue, and cheeks. The type of mouthguard that your dentist recommends will recommend which oral issues you are experiencing. You may qualify for a mouthguard if you play sports or are affected by bruxism.
Our dentist near you offers mouthguards in SW Calgary. We at Bow Trail Dental offer Mouthguards for all ages!
When to Find a Mouth Guard Near You
Plenty of different people need mouthguards. Individuals who play sports, especially high-contact ones, are recommended to wear sports guards. While playing sports, you are at higher risk for facial injuries such as cut lips, tongues, or chipped teeth.
Many people suffer from a bruxism-a condition where a person unconsciously clenches and grinds their teeth. Grinding can happen at night or during the day and can leave the person with a sore jaw, tooth damage, consistent headaches, and worse. Our dentist near you offers custom-made mouth guards to help protect your teeth from grinding, clenching, and sports.
Night Guards & Mouth Guards
Everyone’s teeth are different and require specific treatment plans. Our dentist in Calgary will talk with you about your needs and smile goals.
Night Guard
If you are experiencing headaches, increased tooth sensitivity or pain, a sore jaw, or even earaches, you may have a case of bruxism. Your dentist will notice the signs on your teeth and jaw and likely recommend a night guard.
Night guards fit over either the top or bottom jaw of a person’s mouth, ensuring that their teeth do not come into contact with each other. That way, you are less likely to wear and damage your teeth.
Sports Guard
Sports such as ice hockey, football, and lacrosse can be very taxing on an athlete’s physical health-especially on the teeth. No matter what age you are, protecting your teeth is important. However, sports guards also protect your mouth from lacerations. Sports guards are not usually recommended for bruxism. They are not custom-fitted and can alter your bite if worn for extended periods of time.
Mouth Guard Care
There are a few cleaning habits you should get into with your mouthguard. Then, your teeth are not exposed to extra bacteria, and your mouth guard can last longer.
Rinsing
After you wear your mouthguard, you should rinse the debris out. Rinsing the guard in lukewarm water will cease the growth of plaque and bacteria.
Brushing
You should brush your guard daily with a soft-bristled brush and a non-abrasive cleanser (speak with your dentist about which type to use if you are uncertain). Toothpaste is not recommended because it can damage your guard.
Deep Clean
Each week, you should make an effort to use a dentist-approved cleanser to soak the guard. Often, the minimum recommended amount for soaking is about 30 minutes.
When you are done with the deep clean, let your mouth guard air dry on a clean surface for at least 15 minutes. Letting the guard dry properly will stop bacteria from growing in the enclosed case.
Case Care
Keeping your mouthguard in your case will decrease exposure to bacteria. Trust us; you do not want your sports guard running rampant in your gym bag!
Cleaning the case every few days with regular dish soap is fine, but do not put it in the dishwasher because the material could warp.
Our dentist in Calgary recommends replacing your case every six months or years to keep the case fresh.
