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If you’re very active and you love running, playing football, it’s paramount that you consider the potential for injuries to your mouth and teeth, so protecting them should be a top priority. As the most common injuries are fractured tooth roots involving central incisors and cuts to the lips and tissue inside of your mouth, a gum shield will protect your mouth and teeth from a sports-related concussion, especially if you have traditional braces.
Gum shields are used for rugby, hurling, gaelic football, boxing, basketball, hockey, football, and martial arts. They work by distributing the force of a blow evenly and dispersing the impact forces, thus protecting the teeth and mandibular temporal joint, as well as the soft tissues in your mouth.
Types of Injuries
They move soft tissue in the oral cavity away from the teeth and form a barrier that helps prevent lacerations and bruising against sharp tooth edges, especially if you wear fixed braces.
It protects your teeth against blows so as not to lose any frontal tooth
It minimises the risk of injuries to your lips, tongue, face or jaw
It reduces the damaging force so that it’s less probable that you lose your consciousness
It helps you not to have chipped or broken teeth
Types of Gum Shields and Mouth Guard
The mouth guard, often referred to as a “gum shield”, is a flexible dental appliance that offers protection to your teeth and soft mouth tissues when worn. The gum shield is a piece of your athletic equipment for any person participating in contact sport. There are three types of it: the right choice should suit the impact level involved and the wearer’s individual needs. Its construction type should match that impact level while staying secure during use.
- Pre-formed mouthguards: They may be a faster solution, but they don't usually fit very well. They are usually bulky and uncomfortable.
- “Boil and bite” gum shields: They are purchased in a preformed shape that can be altered to get a more custom fit. They can be a good stopgap for children losing baby teeth very rapidly. They are sold in sporting stores and pharmacies.
- Personalised or custom gum shields: They are designed to fit perfectly on your teeth and mouth, as custom gum shields are made from impressions taken of your teeth, with a chair-side impression helping accuracy and effectiveness before they are sent to the laboratory for production. The manufacturing method also affects comfort, price, and protection. They offer the best protection and comfort, as they are personalised mouthguards. For high-impact sports, thick, multi-layered custom shields may be needed for maximum protection. Different contact sports create different forces, so material thickness varies; in stick and ball sports, the main impact zones should have at least 4mm of material.
Why are Gum Shields Important?
Sports injuries account for around 1/3 of all traumatic dental injuries in children and adults. Athletes are 60 times more likely to sustain damage to their teeth when they do not wear a gum shield. If you don’t wear them and you regularly practice sports such as boxing, rugby, football, motocross, football, especially if you wear orthodontics, you will probably have your teeth, lips, mouth or cheeks injured.
If you use them, you can protect them against such damage, as they cushion and distribute the blow on a broader surface, which significantly lowers the risk of severe dental trauma and gives you more confidence. A proper gumshield is the best way to limit the damage.
What are Nightguards
If you woke up from a poor night’s sleep to discover your jaw feels sore, you might be grinding your teeth while you sleep. When this issue becomes regular, then it’s called sleep bruxism. Nightguards are treatments for this.
Nightguards are soft or hard plastic pieces that cover either the top or bottom set of teeth. They cushion your teeth from the force of clenching, preventing headaches, damaged teeth, inflamed gums and the bother of waking up in pain.
Nightguards against night-time grinding differ from the gum shields, which are sports guards. Anti-grinding devices are meant to be used when sleeping. They protect your teeth from tenderness or fractures, tooth sensitivity, sore muscles in the face or limited mouth opening, which are issues that may arise from grinding.
What is Bruxism?
According to the American Academy of Oral Medicine, teeth grinding is common among children and adults at times. If you feel chipped teeth, waking up with headaches, inflammation of the jaw due to clenching or chronic grinding, you may have bruxism.
Bruxism is the involuntary act of grinding teeth at night. It can lead to progressive wear of the teeth, cause a profound deterioration in sleep quality, and consequences on daytime performance. It’s often detected by the dentist, who observes on the teeth the damage caused by this disorder, so don’t hesitate to contact us, Dublin Orthodontist, and we will take action.
Why are Grinding Devices important?
Although they do not solve the causes of bruxism, which may be psychological or physical, they keep the effects in control and reduce tooth damage, reducing pain, tooth wear, tooth rupture, and headache. At Dublin Orthodontist Cline, we provide you with a solution against the bothering results of bruxism, leading to other issues.
Questions about Gum Shields & Nightguards?
How to clean mouth guard?
- Scrub your nightguard after every use with non-abrasive toothpaste or general liquid soap.
- Remove any obvious debris using a soft bristle brush.
- Place it in its container when you are not wearing it.
- Do not use hot water to clean it and keep it out of the sun.
- Replace it every year for a growing child, while adults should replace it when visible wear appears.
- Regular maintenance and checking for wear help ensure you are wearing the best protection.
How to break in mouth guard?
A “breaking in” process is required when you use a “boil and bite” type of gum shield. This type involves placing it in very hot water, waiting to cool down a bit, then placing it over your teeth and pushing down to mould the soft inner layer to the teeth. These are usually problematic, as they tend to be too small. With a custom fit gum shield, there is no need for such a process, and it will fit perfectly.
How to use mouth guard?
You need to wear it consistently every night to make it a habit. At first, it’s weird to sleep with plastic in your mouth, but in the end, you will get used to it! You will need to clean it regularly and take good care of it. If you have any problems or doubts, don’t hesitate to contact us and we will explain everything in detail.
Can you choke on a mouth guard?
No! Normally, your mouthguard it’s too large to choke on, so you don’t need to worry. A proper guard should cover all your upper teeth and some gums, but not extend onto the soft palate, as that can trigger gagging. If your nightguard is loose, then you need to contact us, and we will replace it right away.
What is a mouth guard?
“Mouthguard” is the general term to refer to the nightguards and the gum shields. It’s a device used during sporting activities to protect the hard and soft tissues of your mouth from any trauma that may otherwise arise.
How to fix broken mouth guard?
Mouthguards cannot be repaired, so you need to contact us, and we will make another one for you, as it won’t work properly and it’s dangerous to use it broken, since a bit may come loose.
How much does a mouth guard cost?
It depends if it is a custom-made mouthguard or a disposable shop-bought mouthguard. Shop bought mouthguards are very cheap, but poorly fitted guards you get in a store offer significantly less protection against oral trauma; custom made mouthguards range from 100-200 euros.
How to stop bruxism at night?
The appliance of a nightguard is to prevent your teeth from grinding so that you won’t have headaches or jaw pain. There are other options, like dental correction, therapy or reductive coronoplasty.
Does bruxism cause ear pain?
Bruxism has no relationship with hearing problems but with the jaw. It’s the jaw that makes you have an earache, so when the jaws move, the muscle that connects to the ear suffers as well.
How to stop grinding teeth?
- Get a nightguard
- Relax before bed
- Massage your jaw muscles
- Exercise
- Start seeing a physical therapist
Do I grind my teeth at night?
Most people are unaware of grinding, as they are sleeping when it happens. However, you can notice the effects, like headache, jaw tenderness or wear on your teeth.
Gum shields vs nightguards
Nightguards protect against teeth grinding or bruxism. This sleep guard prevents damage to your teeth that may otherwise show if you don’t use it. A sports mouth guard or gum shield offers protection against blows during sportive activities, limiting the damaging forces from cutting the soft tissues of your mouth.
What if I leave Bruxism untreated?
If you leave bruxism untreated, it can lead to a bigger risk for decay, it can erode the chewing surfaces of your teeth and cause fractured and chipped teeth and tooth loss in some cases.
Our Treatments
We offer a full range of advanced dental treatments designed to keep your smile healthy and confident.
- General Dental Treatments: A wide range of dental treatments for you and your family
- Orthodontic Treatments: Braces, Invisalign, and much more, treatments for kids and adults aimed to straighten teeth
- Cosmetic Dental Treatments: Are you looking for a smile makeover, we have the treatments that can offer you just that
- Dental Implants Treatments: Are you in need of emergency dental treatment, we can help
At Dublin Orthodontist, we believe in making dental care accessible and stress-free. Whether you’re due for a routine check-up, need a second opinion, or have questions about treatment options, we’re here to help!
Find Us
Dublin Orthodontist is conveniently located at College Gate Clinic, 123 Ballymun Rd, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, D09W523, Ireland. We are easy to find, nestled in a vibrant area with ample parking and access to public transportation. Whether you’re coming by car or bus, our clinic is well-connected and ready to provide you with excellent dental care in a welcoming environment. We look forward to welcoming you!
