What type of mouthguard should you use?
If you think that mouth guards are only meant for athletes, you’d better think again. While mouth guards are very important for athletes, they’re also useful even if you don’t play sports. And that’s because mouth guards, as a dentist in Chicago will tell you, are vital for protecting your teeth from grinding and clenching. Some mouth guards can also help with sleep apnea and eliminate snoring to some extent.
That said, not all mouthguards are alike and some are far more effective than others, depending on what you’re using them for. So to familiarize you with each type of mouthguard so you can make the best decision based on your own needs, we’ll outline the different types of mouthguards.
Store-bought Mouthguards
Go to any sporting goods stores and you’ll likely find two types of mouthguards, stock mouthguards and boil-and-bite mouthguards. Stock mouthguards come in preset sizes so they often don’t fit very well which makes it difficult to keep them on and/or talk. As far as fit is concerned, boil-and-bite mouthguards are a bit better because they fit to your mouth.
Boil-and-bite mouthguards will work okay if you need to use them for sports such as basketball, football, or soccer. However, to protect your teeth against grinding and clenching, these store-bought mouthguards are generally less effective because they don’t fit well enough to stay in while you sleep. Plus, they can be uncomfortable to sleep in or make it hard to breathe.
Custom Mouthguards
A custom mouthguard is specially made by your dentist in Chicago. The dentist does this by taking a mold of your teeth to get the exact shape of your entire mouth. From there, they will create a mouthguard fit to the mold of your mouth, which makes the mouthguard a perfect fit.
As a result, the mouthguards stays in place even while you sleep without affecting your breathing. These mouthguards can also be used for sports if your dentist approves it. Moreover, there are other types of custom mouthguards that dentists build to help improve sleep apnea or reduce snoring. These are similar to the mouthguards we just discussed but they also align your jaw in such a way that your airway is kept open and clear which makes it easier for you to breath.
As you can see, ultimately the type of mouthguard you should use depends on your needs. And if you’re still not sure, ask your dentist in Chicago by calling the East Village Dental Centre.
