Mouth Guard for Grinding Teeth: Medical Indications, Types, and Care
The grinding teeth poor dental habit not only leads to the uneven teeth wearing, which in turn, may well trigger the various bad bite and many other orthodontic disorders. What is more, the intensive teeth surface destruction is closely associated with their sensitivity problem development. On top of that, such patients run the greatest risks of their teeth being fractured or even cracked, especially when the grinding is tough enough. In some severe cases, even the gums recession and even the teeth roots exposure are observed.
What makes this bad dental habit really highly difficult to control is the fact that the individuals generally grind their teeth during their sleep and thus, these lower jaw movements are totally unintentional. In addition, many patients just cannot hold themselves from grinding their teeth, when experiencing anxiety.
That is why their teeth need some special protection. And though, modern dentistry offers a mouth guard for grinding teeth option for such patients.
What Is the Mouth Guard for Grinding Teeth?
Initially used for the sportsmen's engaged into the contact sports teeth protection, the mouth guards are now widely employed into the dentistry and particularly orthodontics field for the minor bad bite and also grinding teeth problems handling.
Basically, the guard for grinding teeth is just a transparent plastic covering put over the patient's upper teeth in order to avoid their direct contact with the ones located on his movable lower jaw. However, when the patient wears dental braces or some other dentures, he will need the additional protection for his lower teeth.
Unlike the protectors used in the contact sports, the guard for grinding teeth is to be put on for your sleep duration only.
Will I Benefit from the Mouth Guard for Grinding Teeth?
Both adults and children get the strong recommendation to wear the guard for grinding teeth at night, if they are even in the occasionally habit of grinding their teeth. This is essential to protect them against the major damage and thus, the above-mentioned dental problems.
Even the patients, who wear dental braces, retainers, fixed and removable dentures, veneers, implants, or even, have broken or missing teeth can greatly benefit from the guard for grinding teeth wearing during their sleep. Still, sometimes, certain previous dental treatment is required. So, remember to visit your dentist prior to getting a guard for grinding teeth, especially, when you experience any discomforting or painful sensations in your teeth.
What Mouth Guard for Grinding Teeth Type Is the Best for Me?
Nowadays you can find at least three types of the mouth guards available. But are they all good for the grinding teeth habit handling? Actually, these teeth protection appliances vary greatly in the way they fit onto your teeth. For instance, you can easily find the stock mouth protectors just about in any department or sports store at a very attractive price. But the fact that there is actually no way you can individually adjust them to your teeth makes dental care providers avoid recommending them for the patients with the grinding habits and especially those of them, who wear dental braces. On top of that, the stock mouth protectors are bulky plus highly uncomfortable and even sometimes, trigger the talking and breathing difficulties.
You can get much better fit, if you purchase the boil-and-bite mouth protectors, fabricated from special thermoplastic material, which pretty well adjusts to your bite pattern. All you need is to place the guards into hot water and then, put them onto your upper teeth, as soon as they get soft and flexible. However, this will not be a good enough guard for grinding teeth option for the patients with the badly crooked or cracked teeth and also for those, who wear dental braces.
And the preferred guard for grinding teeth alternative for this category of patients and also those, who appreciate the comfort and feels ready to pay for it is the custom-fitted mouth protectors. Even though the fabrication of such a guard for grinding teeth is more time-consuming, it will pay off you with the perfect fitting and also protection of exactly those teeth and jaw areas that experience the foremost pressure, since the guards get individually from special ultra strong dental materials.
There are two customary-fitted mouth guard models are available for the patients with the teeth grinding habits. These are the nocturnal bite plate and bite splint. The final choice between these two models is to be made by your dentist in a strict accordance with you related dental problems and needs.
How to Choose a Really Good Mouth Guard for Grinding Teeth?
A good guard for grinding teeth should not only feel comfortable, as you put it on your teeth, but also durable, tear resistant, and certainly, easy to clean. Make sure that it does not hinder your speech and also breathing pattern.
How Should I Take Care of My Mouth Guard for Grinding Teeth?
First of all, remember to clean your teeth protection appliances using toothpaste and toothbrush after each use just as you do with your teeth during your regular oral hygiene routine. Then, rinse it with cold tap water or non-acidic mouthwash. Avoid the hot temperatures (hot surfaces, water, or direct sunlight) to avoid your guard for grinding teeth shape distorting for all the mouth protectors types with the exception of the boil-to-bite ones.
Some models may require the additional anti-germs protection making you follow the occasional soap water cleanings. Place your guard for grinding teeth into its original packaging, which provides the perfect ventilation, in order to ensure its cleanness, especially when traveling.
Be sure to carefully examine your guard for grinding teeth prior to each usage. Stop using it, whenever you notice any tear or holes and purchase a new one. On top of that, let your dentist examine your mouth protection appliances during your routine dental check-ups.
And finally, remember that only the thoroughly chosen, well-fitting, damage-free, and clean guard for grinding teeth will help you to avoid the possible above-outlined the poor dental habit associated complications. Be healthy and wealthy!
