If you play contact sports or suffer from bruxism (chronic teeth grinding), you may be a candidate for a mouthguard. A mouthguard can protect the teeth from injury when playing sports, and prevent tooth erosion and wear for patients who grind their teeth. If you have already experienced dental damage, restorative dentistry treatments are available to repair injuries and restore oral health. In this blog post, Worcester dentist Christy Savas explains who makes a good candidate for a mouthguard.

Candidates for Mouthguards

Mouthguard candidates include anyone who engages in activities that may lead to dental injury, specifically athletes or those who grind their teeth. Certain sports are more likely to lead to dental damage. People who play contact sports like football, hockey, and boxing are especially vulnerable to dental injury and should wear a mouthguard during practice, games, or matches. Those who participate in extreme sports like skateboarding or BMX riding may also consider wearing a mouthguard, as falls can lead to chipped or broken teeth.

Other candidates for mouthguards include those who suffer from teeth grinding and temporomandibular join disorder, also called TMJ disorder or TMD. Chronic teeth grinding can wear the teeth down, cause fractures, or crack the teeth. Mouthguards can help protect the teeth from the effects of teeth grinding. TMD sufferers may also benefit from mouthguards. TMD symptoms are often a result of jaw clenching. Mouthguards help relieve TMD symptoms by preventing the jaws from clenching. This reduces stress on the jaw joint and helps reduce TMD pain. In short, candidates for mouthguards include:

• Those who play contact sports
• Those who participate in extreme sports like skateboarding
• Those who suffer from teeth grinding
• Those who suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder

The Benefits of Wearing a Mouthguard

Mouthguards are beneficial for many reasons. Mouthguards can protect the teeth from unexpected sports injuries, provide relief to TMD sufferers, and prevent damage from long-term teeth grinding. Some of the many benefits include:

• Benefits for athletes: Many sports leave athletes vulnerable to dental injury. Wearing a mouthguard while playing sports can help protect the teeth from unforeseen injury.
• Benefits for teeth grinders: Those who grind their teeth should seek treatment for this condition to prevent major dental damage. Mouthguards offer a great line of defense against teeth grinding. Custom-made mouthguards are comfortable, making them a great option for protecting the teeth during sleep, when most teeth grinding occurs.
• Benefits for TMD sufferers: TMD can lead to jaw pain, constant headaches, and difficulty chewing. Custom-fitted mouthguards help reduce tension on the jaw to alleviate TMD symptoms.  

Find Out If You're a Candidate for Mouthguards

It's never too late to start protecting your teeth. If you have already experienced sports or teeth grinding related dental damage, you should consider wearing a mouthguard. There are many restorative dentistry treatments that can repair any prior damage, while mouthguards can prevent additional damage. To find out if you're a candidate for a mouthguard, we welcome you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Savas today.