If you play a contact sport, you need to wear a sports mouthguard. Contact sports are any sports with contact between players, like lacrosse, hockey, or soccer. Wearing a sports mouthguard protects the teeth, gums, and braces from damage or loss. Nightguards are custom-made treatments similar to sports mouthguards but offer treatment to patients with temporomandibular joint disorders. Wearing a nightguard can prevent tooth wear, jaw pain, and other problems that arise from teeth clenching and grinding. Dr. Yazan Sadeddin creates custom mouthguards in The Woodlands, TX at Majestic Dental to prevent tooth damage. Discover more about custom sports mouthguards and nightguards and how these protective coverings can save teeth and minimize painful symptoms.
Sports Mouthguards vs. Nightguards
A sports mouthguard protects the teeth, gums, and orthodontic appliances. Hits to the face during contact sports can bruise the mouth’s soft tissue and chip, crack, or loosen teeth. Wearing a custom-made sports mouthguard can:
- Prevent tooth damage or loss
- Protect orthodontic appliances from damage
- Reduce the need to clench teeth to keep mouthguards in place
Unlike over-the-counter mouthguards, custom-made mouthguards will not slip. Dr. Sadeddin takes dental impressions to ensure that the mouthguard fits properly.
Nightguards may seem similar to sports mouthguards but offer different materials and uses for patients. A nightguard is typically acrylic and covers the upper or lower teeth. Nightguards can help patients with TMJ disorders who find themselves clenching or grinding their teeth during sleep or in stressful situations. Dr. Sadeddin can also use impressions of teeth to create custom-made nightguards and ensure that they make even contact with teeth.
Wearing a custom mouthguard can:
- Prevent tooth wear and damage
- Decrease the occurrence of headaches and migraines
- Reduce pressure on the TMJ
Alternatives to professionally-made nightguards are typically made of more flexible materials, which can encourage teeth lending and grinding. The hard plastic of professionally-made nightguards offers resistance to the teeth when patients want to clench or grind their teeth during sleep.
Custom Mouthguards in The Woodlands, TX
Dr. Sadeddin will take a dental impression of your teeth to create your custom mouthguard. He sends this impression to a dental lab, where technicians create the mouthguard from a rubber-like plastic. Once the mouthguard is complete, you will return to Dr. Sadeddin’s office, where he will ensure the mouthguard fits precisely. Dr. Sadeddin will also provide you with a mouthguard case to keep track of your mouthguard when it is not in use. You can use a mouthguard soak or soap and lukewarm water to clean and prevent bacterial buildup on your mouthguard.
Get a Custom-Made Mouthguard
Protect your smile with a custom-made mouthguard or nightguard. Call Majestic Dental today at 281-820-6412. You may also request a dental appointment with Dr. Sadeddin online.