Have you ever woken up with achy jaw muscles and jaw pain? If this has happened to you, then you may want to consult with your family dentist but the most common reason for this is bruxism or teeth grinding. Considering that teeth grinding is a symptom of temporomandibular joint disorders, then you might need a mouthguard for TMJ. Now, don’t be too worried about this as there are easy ways to deal with this along with your jaw pain. Dental mouthguards are particularly useful, as they protect your teeth and help ease the discomfort. However, not all dental mouthguards are created equal. You need to consider a slew of different factors when picking a mouthguard.
To help you out with this, we’ve prepared a brief discussion on things to look for when picking out a dental mouthguard. Hopefully, this article will be useful in helping you select the best possible mouthguard to help address your dental issues.
Overall Protection
The main reason why you want to get a mouthguard is so that you can ease the pain and better protect your teeth. Thus, it makes sense to take the overall protection it can offer into consideration when choosing a dental mouthguard. There are different types of mouthguards to choose from. The type you should get is dictated by the severity of your teeth grinding. Be sure to have a professional examine your teeth so you can get the right type of mouthguard. Here are a few of the most common types:
- Soft mouthguards: These mouthguards are for people who don’t have severe teeth grinding problems.
- Dual laminate mouthguards: These mouthguards are more durable than soft mouthguards, all while still offering a healthy amount of flexibility.
- Hard mouthguards: Hard mouthguards are the sturdiest among the mouthguards. They are often reserved for people who have serious teeth grinding problems, as it is usually the only way to protect their teeth.
Comfort and Sizing
We have to mention that you can purchase dental mouthguards in pharmacies and sporting goods stores. However, we don’t recommend this. Over-the-counter mouthguards are often of the boil-and-bite variety. This means that you have to heat up and bite into a mold so that you can have a mouthguard that first your teeth. The thing about this is that it doesn’t accurately accommodate your mouth. Unlike boil-and-bite mouthguards, professionally made custom mouthguards are made by measuring the entire shape and size of your teeth in order to create the most comfortable and effective mouthguard possible.
Durability
Lastly, you’ll want to consider how durable the mouthguards are. The last thing you want is to waste time and money picking up a new mouthguard every other month. Luckily, most dental mouthguards are pretty durable as even soft mouthguards have a lifespan of around 6 months. Hard mouthguards are the most durable as they can last around 1-5 years as long as you take the time and effort to properly maintain them.
Conclusion
As you can see, choosing the right mouthguard can be pretty tricky. Despite the difficulties, the relief that they will provide is well worth all your efforts. Be sure to keep these tips in mind when selecting a mouthguard. Again, we cannot overstate how important it is to visit your dentist so you can get the best treatment possible.
In case your jaw pain subsists even after using a dental mouthguard, it would be best to seek professional help. If you’re looking for a family dentist in Mansfield, TX then you’ve come to the right place. We here at Ivy Rose Family Dentistry offer a wide range of services such as cleanings, teeth whitening, dental bridges, and dental crowns. Book an appointment with us today!
