What is a mouthguard?

When it comes to caring for your mouth, a mouthguard is an essential piece of dental gear offering many helpful benefits.

A mouthguard can protect against bruxism (teeth grinding) and also can be used if you’re participating in collision and contact sports, such as boxing.

What are the different types of mouthguards?

Custom-fitted: These are made specifically for you by your dentist. They may be more expensive than other versions, but because they are customized, they usually offer the best fit.

Stock: These are inexpensive and come pre-formed, so they’re ready to wear. However, often they don't fit well. They can be bulky and can make breathing and talking difficult.

Boil and bite: These mouth protectors can be bought at many sporting goods stores and drugstores, and may offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. They are first softened in water (boiled), then inserted and allowed to adapt to the shape of your mouth.

The best mouthguard is one that has been custom made for your mouth by your dentist. However, if you can't afford a custom-fitted mouthguard, you should wear a stock mouthguard or a boil-and-bite mouthguard from the drugstore.

What are the benefits of mouthguards?

Over time, teeth grinding can cause moderate to severe long-term damage to teeth. Constant grinding wears down the surface of the tooth, exposing the soft dentin beneath the enamel. Some of the damage that may occur includes:

• Chipped teeth
• Tooth flattening and tooth wear
• Cracked tooth enamel
• Cracked, loose, or broken fillings
• Tooth loss
• Gum recession
• Tooth collapse

Bruxism even may cause a root fracture below the gum line, requiring a root canal and crown to restore the damaged tooth. Wearing a mouthguard, especially at night, helps prevent the damage that occurs with grinding. It also may alleviate headaches or pain caused by constant stress on the jaw.

To get a custom-made mouthguard, book an appointment today using the one-click scheduling tool.