Having a sore jaw? Haven’t slept well? Do you like sports? It might surprise you to learn that you could use a mouthguard if any of these sound like you.

Why mouthguards are useful

Mouthguards are solid pieces of plastic that fit over your teeth and jaw and hold them in place. A mouthguard’s main job is to protect your teeth. Mouthguards keep your mouth from getting hurt by accident, ease the pain of grinding your teeth, and can even help people who have trouble sleeping.

Sometimes they can be made to cover the bottom row of teeth too. Most of the time, they only cover the top row. A mouthguard can be bought already made, made just for you, or you can use the “boil and bite” method to make one. The best protection and most comfortable fit come from custom mouthguards made by your Waupaca dentist. But wearing your mouthguard is the most important thing, no matter where you get it.

Many kinds of mouthguards

They all look and work pretty much the same, but some may be slightly different depending on what they’re used for. Mouthguards are mostly used for the following:

Those who play sports without a mouthguard are 60 times more likely to hurt their teeth. (Wow!) You could hurt your mouth in sports even if you don’t expect to hit someone. And this is also true for adults—dentists say that everyone should wear a mouthguard when they play sports or do activities outside. If you get hurt in the mouth, you could lose teeth for good or hurt your tongue and lips very badly.

Night Watch: Bruxism, or grinding your teeth, is very common. The American Dental Association says that 10–15 percent of adults do it. Tooth damage, headaches, and a sore jaw can happen if you grind your teeth at night. Grinding your teeth at night can stop, and so can the bad effects that come with it. If you grind your teeth or clench your jaw, you should talk to your dentist and doctor about why you might be doing it. This is especially important if it’s leading to bigger problems like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).

Sleep Apnea: If you stop breathing for a short time while you sleep, an oral appliance or mouthguard can help keep your tongue and lower jaw in place so air can flow better. Sleep apnea can hurt your oral and overall health in many ways, like leaving your mouth dry and leaving you tired. It can also raise your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. For those who snore, a mouthguard can also help. A mouthguard may not help everyone with sleep apnea, so talk to your dentist or doctor about what will work best for you.

You can wear a mouthguard even if you have braces, too. Just think about how much worse it would be to have an accident with braces on! You should talk to your dentist about getting a mouth guard that fits well and meets your needs.

To keep bacteria from growing, clean your mouthguard with soap and water and brush it with toothpaste and a toothbrush. Also, keep it in a case with air holes.

Emergency Dental Care

Even if you take all the precautions possible, if you hurt your mouth by accident, emergency dentistry is here for you. When the dentist’s office is closed, most of them have an answering service you can call at any time if you need help.

You should talk to your dentist if you have long-term problems like TMJ, teeth grinding, or sleep apnea.