The importance of mouthguards for sports and bruxism
Wearing a mouthguard is one of the easiest ways to protect your teeth. Whether you’re playing sport, or grinding your teeth in your sleep, these dental appliances play an important role in preserving the longevity of your teeth.
As experienced South Brisbane dentists, our team has spent years helping patients reap the benefits of custom-made mouthguards and maintain their oral health. Let’s explore why mouthguards are so helpful.
Mouthguards for sport
Whether it’s you or your child playing sports, protecting your teeth is crucial. At The Practice, we’ve witnessed unfortunate sports-related accidents that could have been prevented with the use of a mouthguard. Here’s how mouthguards offer protection:
Protecting tooth loss: Losing a tooth is everyone’s worst nightmare, especially if it’s knocked out by force while playing sport. Being hit in the mouth, or hard contact can cause teeth to dislodge or fracture. Wearing a mouthguard can significantly reduce the chance of tooth loss and injury.
Shock absorption: Mouthguards are great shock absorbers, helping to lessen the impact if you get hit in the mouth. In sports, like football, boxing and soccer there’s always a chance of collision, so a mouthguard can be used to minimise the chance of broken teeth, lip injuries and jaw fractures by acting as a shock absorber.
Reduce soft-tissue injuries: When you think of mouthguards you may think you’re only protecting your teeth, but you’re also protecting your lips, cheeks and tongue from cuts and abrasions during contact sports.
Mouthguards for bruxism (teeth grinding)
Bruxism, or as it’s commonly known, teeth grinding, is a common dental issue that affects many of our patients here at The Practice, West End. Mouthguards are a great way to manage bruxism, as they protect your teeth, can help to reduce pain and prevent further damage. Here’s how they are helpful:
Protecting teeth: Teeth grinding can lead to enamel erosion, tooth sensitivity and even in some more serious cases, tooth fractures. Custom-made mouthguards provide a barrier between your upper and lower teeth and prevent them from grinding on each other.
Pain reduction: If you grind your teeth there’s also a big chance you experience pain, which can include jaw pain, headaches and facial discomfort. By using a mouthguard the force is distributed evenly and lessens the strain on your jaw muscles.
Prevent further damage: If bruxism is left untreated, it can lead to more serious dental issues. A mouthguard is an effective way to prevent further damage and maintain your oral health.
Read our blog article on ‘How to stop teeth grinding‘.
Custom-made mouthguards at your local West End Dentist
If you’re looking for the most effective protection when you’re playing sport, or you’re looking to prevent serious damage caused by bruxism, the experienced dentists at The Practice can help with custom-made mouthguards in South Brisbane.
Our personalised approach not only ensures the best protection but minimises the risk of damage to your teeth. We offer properly fitted mouthguards in a range of colours and sizes to cater to your specific needs. Call us to make an appointment today at 07 3733 3223 or make a booking online.
