Mouthguards are a kind of tool that are designed to protect your teeth from grinding or clenching during sleeping or to avoid injuries while you are playing any sport.
They are also useful to reduce snoring and get you relieved from sleep apnea.
You can visit a Houston dentist to know the best option for you.
There are three main types of mouthguards depending on your requirements.
Stock mouthguard:
A stock mouthguard is used highly as it is easy to get at affordable prices. This type of mouthguard is available at sporting goods stores and drug stores. The size of stock mouthguards is available in small, medium, and large to fit over your teeth. Most stock mouthguards can cover your front teeth.
The drawback of stock mouthguards is their limited size options and quite feel uncomfortable as they don’t provide a tight fit. It can produce some difficulty while you are talking.
Boil-and-bite mouthguard
Boil-and-bite mouthguards are also available at most drugstores and are less expensive. There is only one size available that can be customized to fit your teeth. Before placing it on your teeth, you will have to boil it first until it gets softened. After that, you can place it over your front teeth and bite down.
Custom-made mouthguard:
Your local dentist can also provide you with a custom-made mouthguard. They will take impressions of your teeth and create a mold to manufacture a perfect fit mouthguard exactly matching the structure of your teeth and mouth.
Since this provides a much better fit than other types of mouthguards, you will feel more comfortable. Also, it stays in its place while you are sleeping.
If you are used to grinding your teeth or have sleep apnea then a custom-made mouthguard is considered the best option for you. But it is more expensive than other types of mouthguards.
While the appearance of mouthguards can be the same but they perform different functions such as:
Teeth grinding and clenching are part of bruxism that is a sleep-related condition that can produce a variety of problems like tooth pain, jaw pain, and sore gums. It can also damage your teeth.
When you wear a mouthguard during sleeping, it can help to keep your top and bottom teeth separated so that they can’t harm each other from the pressure of grinding and clenching.
A mouth guard for sleeping
If you are suffering from sleep apnea that is a serious sleep disorder leading to breathing problems while you are asleep. In this condition, the person stops breathing temporarily while asleep because it can prevent your brain from getting enough oxygen and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. In addition, it can cause enormous snoring.
If your problem is mild, a custom-made night mouth guard can help to relieve the problem as it will keep your ways open while you are asleep.
So, if you are experiencing sleeping disorders, a mouthguard can help you to relieve.