Mouthguards and Night Guards in Germantown
Sports can make a kid’s life better and help them stay fit and strong. But kids who take part in sports activities are also at risk of injuring their teeth. Sports-related dental injuries can result in children losing time from school and parents paying thousands of dollars to have their kids’ teeth and jaws fixed. The good news is that a comfortable mouthguard can help protect children’s mouths and parents’ pocketbooks.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends wearing a mouth guard for various contact sports. According to the ADA, people who don't wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to suffer dental injuries. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) calls for using mouthguards during any sport.
There are three different kinds of mouthguards.
A store-bought mouthguard is available at most sporting goods stores. This one-size-fits-all mouthguard is inexpensive and comes in a limited selection. This mouthguard gives minimal protection, can obstruct speaking, and is often uncomfortable because it is not an exact fit.
A boil and bite mouth guard is placed in hot water and then formed into shape by a child’s teeth. Boil and bite mouth guards are more comfortable but don’t provide full protection in sports.
A custom-made mouth guard offers the best protection for children’s teeth. A dentist makes an impression of the child’s teeth, and the impression is used to create the mouth guard out of high-quality material.
A custom-made mouth guard protects the entire mouth from traumatic injury. Best of all for parents, the cost is very reasonable and far cheaper than dental surgery after an accident.
If your child needs a mouthguard for sports, please call our office to make an appointment. The dentist will examine your child, identify your child’s needs, and create a custom-made mouth guard that fits perfectly. Don’t put this off until it is too late, call us today.
There is good news for parents whose children grind their teeth at night. At first parents may, or may not, be aware that some children clench their jaws and grind their teeth at night. If teeth grinding (also known as bruxism) is a regular occurrence, it will result in wear and tear of tooth enamel.
Some of the symptoms of teeth grinding include facial pain, sore jaw, headaches, jaw clicking sounds, teeth that are mysteriously chipped/cracked and super-sensitive, feeling tired, and siblings who notice nighttime noises.
In addition to tooth damage, clenching and grinding teeth can cause problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which allows the jaw to move.
Fortunately, night guards can prevent this damage. Night guards fit over the teeth to prevent them from touching. Night guards also help prevent jaw muscles from clenching tightly and causing stress on the temporomandibular joint.
Over-the-counter night guards are available at most drug stores, but they are one-size-fits-all, which is often not comfortable to wear. The best type is a custom-made night guard made by a dentist. This night guard is specially designed to fit a child’s teeth and mouth.
A dentist creates a custom-made night guard by first taking teeth impressions, or a 3-D scan, of a child’s teeth. The night guard is then created in the precise shape of the child’s teeth. The night guard is made from material that is strong and comfortable.
A comfortable night guard is important because your child will be sleeping with it all night. If it’s not comfortable your child will not wear it. Custom-made night guards offer the most comfort and therefore they will be worn more often.
Mouthguards and Night Guards in 20874
If you suspect that your child is grinding their teeth at night, please call us at 301-972-4224 to make an appointment at our office. The dentist will examine your child for evidence of teeth grinding and recommend the best course of action. Help your child’s teeth and their sleep by calling us today.
