Your Guide to Mouthguards

If you grind your teeth, play contact sports, or engage in high-risk activities, such as ice skating, a custom mouthguard can help protect your teeth and gums from trauma. Our Calgary holistic dentists can provide custom mouthguard services to protect your oral and overall health.

Mouthguards are dental devices that are designed to protect your teeth, tongue, gums, and cheeks from trauma caused by sports injuries or teeth grinding. Your Calgary holistic dentist might recommend a mouthguard for you if you: 

• Grind your teeth (bruxism)
• Play contact sports (e.g. basketball, hockey, or soccer)
• Take part in non-contact sports with a high fall risk, such as biking or ice skating
• Participate in any recreational activity that might pose a risk of injury to the mouth

Mouthguards are one of the great innovations in athletic safety equipment and they can help protect you, and your family, against tooth fractures, tooth loss, and other soft tissue injuries.

Our Calgary Holistic Dentists Provide Comfortable and Quality Custom Mouthguards 

At Dr. Korol Dental Clinic, our team of Calgary holistic dentists can design a custom mouthguard to fit your teeth, lifestyle, and needs. This will ensure that your dental device will provide the highest level of protection and fit more comfortably than the store-bought varieties. 

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CUSTOM MOUTHGUARDS IN CALGARY 

3 Types of Mouthguards 

Mouthguards are often used to protect your teeth from grinding while you sleep, injuries when you play sports, and may also help reduce snoring and relieve sleep apnea. However, not all mouthguards are the same. Here are three types of mouthguards: 

Custom-Fitted: Your dentist will use an impression of your teeth to make a custom mouthguard that will fit your teeth and mouth comfortably. While these mouthguards are more expensive than other types, they provide the best fit and protection. In addition, it’ll be made specifically for your needs, whether it’s protection during sports, or to use at night if you grind your teeth.

4 Reasons to Invest in a Custom Mouthguard

Boil and Bite: These are sold over the counter and are relatively inexpensive, although they do not provide the protection of a custom-fitted one. These come in one size that you customize to fit your teeth. This involves placing the mouthguard in hot water until it softens and then placing it over your front teeth and biting down.

Stock: These one-size-fits-all mouthguards come preformed and ready to wear. Because they aren’t made specifically for your teeth, they often don’t fit well and can make breathing difficult. Stock mouthguards offer the least protection of all types of mouthguards.

Where Can I Buy These Mouthguards? 

Custom-fitted mouthguards are only available through a dental professional. You can buy stock or boil-and-bite mouthguards over-the-counter at drugstores or sporting goods stores. 

What Are the Advantages of Wearing a Mouthguard?

A mouth injury can be extremely painful and may require costly treatment. Wearing a mouthguard during athletic activities can help you avoid: 

• Chipped, damaged, or lost teeth
• Nerve damage to a tooth
• Soft tissue damage to lips, gums, tongue, and the inside of your cheeks

BENEFITS OF WEARING A CUSTOM MOUTHGUARD 

How Do I Look After My Custom Mouthguard? 

Mouthguards pick up bacteria from your mouth, so you must clean your teeth very well before putting your mouthguard in. Here are some tips to look after your mouthguard: 

• Don’t expose it to extreme heat, as this can cause your mouthguard to warp and change shape.
• Keep it in a sturdy and vented plastic case when you aren’t using it.
• Rinse it with cold water and use a brush and soapy water to clean it after each use. Let it air dry.
• Store the mouthguard out of reach of dogs and other pets.

HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR CUSTOM MOUTHGUARD 

Protect Your Oral Health With Our Custom Mouthguards 

If you play sports or grind your teeth and you don’t already have a custom mouthguard, you can visit our holistic dental clinic to have one made. For more advice on how to care for your mouthguard, or to book an appointment, call us at 403-245-9099 or fill out our online contact form.