Mouthguards

Types of Mouth Guards and Their Cost

Stock Mouthguard: These mouthguards come in fixed sizes including small, medium and large. You can get them from a nearby medical store or a sports shop. Due to the fixed sizes, stock mouthguards may not fit your jaw perfectly causing slight pain and irritation. But they protect your teeth effectively and are made from durable materials like rubber or polyvinyl chloride(PVC). Stock mouthguards are very affordable and you can get one for just $10-$15.

Boil and Bite Mouthguard: These mouthguards are made from thermoplastic materials, they turn soft when boiled and can be moulded into any desired shape. They fit better than the stock mouthguards but they are not considered secure and safe in the long term. They can cost up to $30 or less, depending on the brand.

Custom-made Mouthguard: Custom mouthguards are made specifically according to your teeth, which makes them very secure and comfortable. These mouthguards will cost you more because they are made in labs with extreme precision. You can get a custom-made mouthguard for $300 to $800, the overall cost depends on the material used and the complexity of the teeth structure.

Different Uses of Mouthguards

Protection during sports activity

Your teeth and jaw are vulnerable during sports activities like boxing, football or basketball because they are not protected by any other bones or muscles. Mouthguards are made from a durable and flexible material that acts like a cushion absorbing the impact, saving your teeth. The role of mouthguards in sports can be understood from the fact they are recommended for almost every sport activity and there are some specific sports where mouthguards are mandatory.

Teeth Grinding and Bruxism

Teeth grinding during the day or nighttime is generally caused by stress, anxiety or sleeping disorders. People often underestimate the dangers of teeth grinding but it can lead to cracked teeth, loss of enamel, headaches, and facial pain. Mouthguards act as a protective layer between the upper and lower jaw preventing contact between them.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes irregular breathing while sleeping and it can stop breathing in severe cases. For relief from sleep apnea, there are special kinds of mouthguards available called mandibular advancement devices (MADs). These mouthguards are mostly two pieces that force the mouth to open, creating space for air intake through the throat.

For Snoring Problem

Mouthguards provide effective relief from snoring problems in adults. Snoring can disturb your sleep and your partner’s sleep and increase the risk of heart-related problems. There are studies done that explain the Benefits of oral appliances on adult snoring.

How Important are Mouthguards and How Do they Protect our Teeth?

You may have seen athletes using mouthguards while playing, but how exactly does this piece of flexible material protect our teeth? We will now explore the answer to this question.

Mouthguards are made from a flexible material that braces the impact and absorbs the shock protecting our teeth.

Our jawbone is really strong and can brace impact during accidents but our teeth work differently, teeth are strong but vulnerable against outside impacts. Once your teeth crack or fracture, they cannot heal themselves and hence, your only option is to get treatments like tooth filling or dental implants. Using mouthguards can save you from these rather expensive treatments and these guards only cost $10-$30, however for perfect fitting and no discomfort you can opt for custom-made mouthguards costing from $300 to $800. This cost is nothing when compared with the importance of your natural teeth.

Common Issues Associated with Mouthguards

Mouthguards are an effective and affordable solution for protecting your teeth and jaw, but they are not perfect. With long-term or short-term use of mouthguards, you may experience these problems.

Change in Teeth alignment

The precise answer is Yes, mouthguards can change your teeth alignment but only when they are not fitted properly. A poorly fitted mouthguard when used regularly can affect your teeth alignment, which is why for regular and long-term it is advised to get a custom-fitted mouthguard from a dentist.

Gum soreness

Mouthguards cover your gums along with your teeth, which is why after using them for some time you may feel soreness in your gums. An ill-fitted mouthguard puts pressure on your gum, leading to soreness.

Infection and Bad Oral Hygiene

If the mouthguards are not cleaned regularly, they may accumulate bacteria and germs leading to bad breath and poor oral hygiene.

Certain types of Allergies

There are very few cases of allergies because of Mouthguards but the chances are not zero. Mouthguards are made from synthetic materials that may cause certain allergies and if you experience any abnormal symptoms after using the mouthguard contact your dentist immediately.

It is evident that most problems related to mouthguards come from bad fitting, this confirms that the fitting of a mouthguard is very important. Your search for a perfectly fit mouthguard ends with Dentis Healthcare, we use advanced technological systems to make mouthguards to ensure the highest quality. These custom-made mouthguards are made in labs with precision and under the supervision of our experienced professionals. Personalised and lab-made mouthguards ensure that you don’t experience any discomfort or gum soreness even with long-term use and they also protect your bite alignment.

Important Tips for Taking Care of Mouthguards

Rinse and Clean After removing: It is important to rinse your mouthguard with warm water after every use, this will remove the bacteria from the mouthguard. Then for better cleaning, use toothpaste and a brush to thoroughly clean the guards.

Store mouthguards in a sealed air-tight case: After cleaning the mouthguard, first dry them completely and then keep them in a sealed air-tight container.  Make sure to keep the mouthguards in a cool place because they are made from thermoplastic which can deform with excess heat.

Keep Away from Pets and Kids: Don’t let your kids or pets play with your mouthguards, this can introduce bacteria and germs to the guard leading to infection and other diseases through ingestion.

Deep clean monthly: With regular rinsing and washing, you additionally need to deep clean your mouthguards once a month. Use a strong dentist-recommended non-abrasive cleaner for your mouthguard and you can easily get it from your dentist or a medical store.

It is important to take care of mouthguards because using a bacteria-filled mouthguard can affect your oral hygiene and oral health negatively. The accumulated bacteria in the mouthguard can spread to your teeth and gums causing infection. That is why dentists recommend to keep your mouthguards clean and hygienic.

Conclusion

Mouthguards are made from thermostatic material which is durable and flexible, this helps in absorbing the impact from injuries and accidents protecting our teeth. These guards protect your teeth during sports activities where the risk of potential face injury is very high. Mouthguards are multi-purpose appliances that are very effective for sleep apnea and snoring. You can choose the type of mouthguard that is best according to your situation. Generally, mouthguards don’t cost more than $30 but if you want to get a custom-made mouthguard that fits you perfectly, you might have to spend more.

If you are looking to get a mouthguard for long-term use, make sure that guard fits you perfectly as using an ill-fitted mouthguard can lead to discomfort and gum soreness. Mouthguards are very effective and protect your teeth from outside dangers like injuries as well as inside dangers like teeth grinding. It is also important to disinfect and clean the mouthguards frequently to ensure good oral hygiene.