What is The Purpose of a Mouth Guard: Why It Matters

When you think of mouth guards, you might picture athletes using them in sports. But these small dental appliances are actually much more versatile than that. They’re not just for sports; they can also help people who grind their teeth or manage medical conditions/sleep disorders like sleep apnea. When choosing a mouthguard, getting the right fit for optimal protection is important.

Even though most mouth guards might look similar, it's important to understand that each type serves a specific purpose and should not be swapped for another. Let’s break down how these protective mouth guards work, the different kinds you can get and why they’re so important for various situations.

What exactly is a dental mouth guard?

A dental mouth guard is a custom-fitted device that covers your teeth and gums to protect them from damage. The injury may be from different sources, such as teeth grinding or impact from contact sports. Nevertheless, every type of mouth guard serves a common purpose: protecting the oral health by keeping your teeth and mouth safe.

At Dental Designs Clinic, we fabricate all types of mouth guards at our in-house dental lab. This ensures quality control and hence, maximum protection for your mouth.

What are the different types of mouth guards?

Broadly speaking, there are three distinct types of mouth guards, each suited to different needs and preferences. Custom-fitted mouthguards are the best option, as they are specifically designed from impressions of your teeth. These are mouth guards for teeth grinding, for sports and for sleep apnea. Below is a breakdown of each type.

1) Mouth guard for teeth grinding

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, can lead to worn-down teeth, jaw pain and headaches. To tackle this, a specific type of mouth guard called night guard can be made just for wearing while you sleep.

Purpose of a mouth guard for teeth grinding

1. Protects Teeth from Wear: A custom-fitted mouth guard provides effective protection from the excessive pressure and friction caused by grinding. It acts as a barrier, preventing your teeth from coming into direct contact.
2. Reduces muscle strain: By cushioning the bite, a mouth guard can help alleviate the strain on your jaw muscles, reducing discomfort and helping you avoid tension headaches.
3. Prevents Damage to Dental Work: If you have dental restorations like crowns or fillings, a mouth guard can protect them from damage that might occur due to grinding.

They also aid in reducing jaw joint pain and the symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) and hence is seen as a treatment for bruxism.

At Dental Designs, we provide four different types of mouth guards for teeth grinding. These custom mouth guards range from soft materials to harder ones, to cater to various level of protection against teeth grinding. Our dental mouth guards are all fabricated in our in-house dental lab with durable materials and are hence named DuraAir, Dura3D and DuraMax. Learn more about them here.

2) Mouth guard for sports

Mouth guards for sports are specifically known as sports guards (or sports mouthguards). Why are they so important in sports and physical activities? This is because they aim to shield the teeth and gums from potential physical harm, which can save individuals from mouth-related injuries such as tooth fracture, jaw injuries or broken teeth, therefore preventing costly treatments and painful dental procedures down the line.

Purpose of a mouth guard for sports

1. Prevents Dental Injuries: In athletic activities like field hockey or basketball, players are at risk of accidental collisions that can lead to broken or knocked-out teeth. A sports mouth guard acts as a cushion, absorbing shocks and protecting your teeth from injury.
2. Protects Soft Tissues: Not only do sports mouth guards shield your teeth but they also protect your lips, gums and the inside of your cheeks from cuts and bruises.
3. Reduces the Risk of Concussions: Wearing a sports guard has been shown to reduce the risk of concussions. By cushioning the impact, it can prevent the force from traveling up through the jaw and into the brain.

At Dental Designs Clinic, our sports guards are custom-made in our in-house lab with Ethylene-Vinyl-Acetate (EVA), a tough and flexible thermoplastic material. EVA can be molded to fit your teeth perfectly, absorbing shocks and resisting wear even during intense activities. 

Click here to learn about how to choose the right athletic mouth guard for any sports.

3) Mouth guard for sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a type of sleep disorder that is characterised by repetitive breathing interruptions during sleep. One type of sleep apnea, known as obstructive sleep apnea, can sometimes be managed with a certain types of mouthguards. Click here to learn about obstructive sleep apnea and the dental devices available to manage it.

Purpose of a mouth guard for sleep apnea

• Keeps Airway Open: These custom mouth guards adjust your jaw and tongue position to prevent airway blockages, allowing for uninterrupted breathing.
• Improves Sleep Quality: By addressing breathing interruptions, a sleep apnea mouth guard can help you get a more restful night’s sleep and reduce daytime fatigue.

At Dental Designs Clinic, we offer two types of custom-made mouthguards for sleep apnea. Click here to learn more.

Each type of mouth guard is designed for specific purposes, so it’s important to choose the right one for your needs. If you have any questions or need help selecting the right mouth guard, feel free to reach out to us!

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How do I maintain my mouth guard?

To get the most out of your mouth guard, proper care is essential. Cleaning any type of mouthguard is straightforward. Here is a simple cleaning checklist.

Clean Regularly: Rinse your mouth guard with cold water (but not hot water) before and after each use. For a deeper clean, use a soft toothbrush and mild soap or non-abrasive toothpaste.

Store Properly: Keep your mouth guard in a ventilated case and away from direct sunlight to protect it from damage and to ensure it stays clean. The boil and bite mouth guards offer a better fit than stock options by allowing you to soften the material in boiling water before shaping it to an impression of your teeth.

Check for Wear and Tear: Regularly inspect your mouth guard for signs of wear. Replace it if it becomes worn out or doesn’t fit properly. For those engaging in contact sports like ice hockey, a sports guard should be replaced after a severe impact or at least once per season. Night guards might last longer but should be replaced at any sign of severe wear or if there are changes to dental work that alter the fit. It would be best to check with your dentist on when to replace a custom mouthguard.

To read in-depth about how to keep care for your mouth guards, click here.

Conclusion

Whether you're wearing a mouthguard for sports or dental protection, investing in a custom-fitted one ensures better comfort and security than stock models. Always wear mouthguards during high-impact activities to protect your teeth effectively.

A mouth guard is more than just a piece of sports equipment or a dental accessory. It’s a vital tool for protecting your oral health. Whether you’re an athlete, a teeth grinder or someone dealing with sleep apnea, investing in a mouth guard can save you from potential pain, tooth damage and costly dental work. So, if you haven’t considered one yet, now might be the perfect time to explore the options and find the best fit for your needs.

Ready to book a dental appointment for a mouth guard? Simply drop us a message here and we will be right with you!

References

• YARAR, Hakan, Umid KARLI, Kutlu AYDIN, Hüseyin ERDEM, and Hanifi UZUM. "Effect of using mouth guard on anaerobic and aerobic performance of combat sport athletes." Age (year) 22 (2013): 2-2.
• Bashir, A., Jawa, D., Somani, R., Jaidka, S., Magray, I., Ahmad, L., ... & Madhu, A. (2021). All about bruxism-The teeth grinding. Journal of Advanced Medical and Dental Sciences Research, 9(5), 9-23.