Protect Your Smile
At Oelwein and West Union Dental Associates, we take pride in building long-lasting relationships with our patients and learning about their daily lives. We love hearing about the sports or active hobbies that our patients participate in. Because of this, we strive to ensure their smiles are protected from any unexpected dental accidents with the help of custom mouthguards.
What Is a Mouthguard?
A mouthguard, also known as a nightguard or sports guard, is a protective oral appliance used to help keep your teeth safe from injury or damage. Our mouthguards are custom-created to fit perfectly over your teeth, allowing you to be worry-free while enjoying your active lifestyle. We also offer mouthguards for patients who suffer from teeth grinding, or bruxism, while they sleep.
Learn how Dr. Kruger can supply you with a custom mouthguard and the benefits they offer below.
How Mouthguards Help
Mouthguards are designed to help protect your teeth, gums, jaw, and other parts of your mouth from being damaged. From football to hockey, a mouthguard is the most effective way to prevent tedious and expensive dental work in the future and protect the appearance of your smile. While there are general mouthguards available in stores, customized mouthguards are made to perfectly fit over your unique bite and the contours of your smile.
If you’re in need of a mouthguard, our talented team offers custom-made oral appliances designed for your protection. They’ll examine your mouth, take high-quality impressions of your teeth, and send it to a dental laboratory to create your customized mouthguard. With our patient-centered approach, we’re able to help patients protect their smiles and maintain pristine oral health.
Types of Mouthguards
When choosing your mouthguard, there is a wide variety to choose from depending on your budget and dental needs. The three types of mouthguards available are:
- Stock Mouthguards: Found in most drugstores, these are the cheapest and most widely available mouthguards. Stock mouthguards come in three sizes of small, medium, and large and only cover the top teeth. These off-the-shelf mouthguards offer little protection and can be uncomfortable.
- Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards: This type of mouthguard is made from a special plastic that becomes malleable when boiled. They come in one size and will be fitted to your bite once they’re boiled. These are also inexpensive and a widely available mouthguard option.
- Custom Mouthguards: Custom-fitted mouthguards offer the greatest amount of protection and the highest level of comfort available. An impression of your teeth is taken by your dentist to create a perfectly fitted oral appliance.
Caring For Your Mouthguard
It’s important to protect your mouthguard from damage and keep it clean since it spends a lot of time in your mouth. To get the most out of your mouthguard, we recommend following these guidelines:
- Brush and floss your teeth before putting in your mouthguard.
- Rinse your mouthguard with cold water or mouthwash before putting it in and after taking it. Avoid using hot water as it can warp its shape.
- Use a toothbrush with toothpaste to clean it.
- Regularly check for signs for holes or other signs of damage, which means it needs to be replaced.
- Bring your mouthguard to your dental appointments so we can ensure it fits and functions properly.
- Store your mouthguard in a hard container with ventilation to protect it and allow it to dry between uses.
Remember that mouthguards aren’t designed to last forever. Replace your mouthguard as soon as you see any holes or signs of wear, or every two to three years. You may need to replace stock and boil-and-bite mouthguards more frequently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my mouthguards ruin my teeth?
Mouthguards won’t ruin your teeth when they’re used properly. Without this oral appliance, accidents involving high-contact sports and teeth grinding can put your more at risk of injury as well as misalignment issues. Your dentist will take impressions of your teeth to ensure that your mouthguards are custom-made to fit around your smile to ensure maximum comfort.
Do I have to wear my custom mouthguard all day?
You’ll only need to wear a mouthguard when you’re doing a physically-involved sport like football or while you’re sleeping. These are situations where your teeth are at risk of potential injury or wear and tear. Our custom mouthguards are designed to offer patients relief and protection without intruding on their lifestyle. In fact, you might not even notice you’re wearing an oral appliance until you have to take it off.
Will my mouthguard relieve my TMD symptoms?
Your night guard can relieve the negative effects of TMD on your teeth while you sleep. Your dentist will conduct a full evaluation of your smile to determine the cause of your TMD and make a mouthguard that’s designed to relieve your symptoms. While a nighttime mouthguard won’t be a cure for your TMJ Disorder, it can help you avoid feeling persistent pain during the day. Fortunately, we also offer TMJ therapy to treat your jaw issues.
What if my mouthguard slowly wears down?
Our dentist will replace your mouthguard if it breaks or slowly wears down over time. If you notice your mouthguard doesn’t protect your teeth as effectively as it used to or start to feel loose in your smile, it may be time to get a new one. Your dentist will evaluate your oral health and take new impressions of your teeth to create a new mouthguard for your teeth.
Get the Best Protection for Your Teeth
Your smile is an important part of your confidence and overall oral health. That’s why our custom-made, comfortable mouthguards are designed to protect your beautiful smile. To learn more about preventing unwanted dental injury and damage, reach out to Dr. Kruger at either our Oelwein or West Union, IA practice by calling (319) 283-4222 or (563) 422-6292 respectively. You can also fill out our online contact form below. We also serve patients in the Hazleton, Fairbank, Douglas, and Eldorado, IA areas.