In my opinion there are two types of people, those who clench and grind and those in denial!
Stress is one of the main reasons people clench and grind their teeth. Who among us can say they are completely stress free? (Good or Bad) In fact I have noticed that good stress ie; getting married, buying a house, new boyfriend or girlfriend, new job, new baby, new car, renting an apartment, moving, are all exciting and great, but can be very stressful and we just didn’t realize it! I see more clenching with good stress than bad stress (you all know what those things are). So to sum up most of us wear or need to wear something to protect our teeth and jaw from clenching and grinding.
Mouth Guards are custom-fitted teeth and mouth protectors that are especially designed to prevent teeth grinding, as well as to shield the teeth from injury during sports. They are worn over the teeth and are custom fitted in a dental office or laboratory as per dentist’s instructions. To make a mouth piece or mouth guard, an impression of the patient’s teeth is made, and mouth guard is molded over it. Special materials are used to make custom mouth guards, which is why they are much more expensive than generic types that don’t exactly fit your mouth and can cause tooth movement, more clenching and/or TMJ damage. However, custom made guards provide more comfort and the best protection, as they are especially made for your needs and professionally made to your bite and mouth.
In general, mouth guards only cover the upper teeth, but sometimes, a mouth piece for the lower teeth is also recommended, especially if a patient wears braces or any other type of fixed dental appliance on his or her lower jaw. You can trust your dentist to recommend the best mouth guard to help address your teeth grinding problem and help you protect your mouth from sports-related injuries. The most effective mouth guards are those that resist tears, durable, easy to clean, and most importantly, comfortableFor those who grind their teeth at night, a special type of mouth guard is often recommended, known as a bite splint or nocturnal bite plate, which is very effective in preventing tooth damage.
Mouth Guards in Sports
Mouth-related injuries are more likely to happen without proper precaution. Different types of contact sports like basketball, boxing, football, soccer, ice hockey, and lacrosse, among many, require great physical activity and rough contact, which is recipe for injuries. This is why using a mouth guard while playing such active sports is important to avoid any injuries to the lips, soft mouth tissues, and the tongue, as well as to protect yourself from chipping or breaking your teeth.
