Sure, cavities can damage your teeth. Good thing you know how to prevent them, with daily brushing and flossing, and regular dental cleanings in our office. Unfortunately there are plenty of other ways you can harm your teeth – many of which are harder for you to control. You should consider a simple tool that can prevent several kinds of dental damage: a custom-made mouthguard.
A custom-made mouthguard protects your smile better than a store-bought mouthguard. That’s largely because of its superior fit. Dr. Barfield will use impressions of your teeth and other measurements to give your mouthguard a perfect fit. If it’s comfortable – and it will be – you won’t be tempted to leave it out when you should be wearing it.
In this blog we’ll highlight three reasons you may want to get a custom-made mouthguard. Dr. Barfield is happy to talk to you about any of them! Call 1st in Smiles today at 972-905-9266 for a consultation.
Get More Restful & Healthy Sleep
If you have sleep apnea, your sleep is briefly interrupted many times a night, which causes you to gasp for breath. This happens when your airway becomes blocked by your tongue or other muscles. Dr. Barfield can treat it with a custom-made mouthguard that moves your jaw forward enough to keep your airway unobstructed.
Lots of sleep apnea sufferers prefer a mouthguard to a CPAP machine, another treatment often suggested for apnea. A mouthguard works well for mild or moderate cases of sleep apnea. Additional treatment may be required for more severe cases.
Loud and persistent snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea. Some folks don’t have apnea but still snore loudly – a problem that can disturb their sleep as well as the rest of others in the household. The good news is, a custom-made mouthguard will stop your snoring whether or not you have apnea.
End TMJ Pain With a Custom-made Mouthguard
The primary symptom of a TMJ disorder is jaw pain so severe that it interferes with everyday activities such as yawning, speaking, and chewing food. Though the causes are somewhat mysterious, it is often linked to teeth grinding and/or jaw clenching, two bad habits that often take place while you sleep. Both habits put pressure on your temporomandibular joints (TMJ), making them inflamed and irritated.
Dr. Barfield can fit you for a special mouthguard called an occlusal splint that prevents your upper and lower teeth from coming into contact while you sleep. You won’t be able to clench or grind, which gives your jaw a chance to heal. Wearing a splint can also help relieve chronic headaches and migraines.
Protect Your Teeth During Athletic Activities
According to a statistic found in a Journal of the American Dental Association article, up to 39 percent of dental injuries are related to sports. That’s a pretty big number – one that should convince you to wear a custom-made mouthguard to protect your teeth during athletic activities. The mouthguard will protect your teeth from injury and may also offer some protection against concussions.
Since it fits better than one from a store, a custom-made mouthguard will be less likely to get knocked out of your mouth. You’ll also find it easier to breathe and talk. Plus it will fit as soon as you put it in your mouth. You won’t need a frustrating “boil-and-bite” process to adjust it.
Think you may benefit from a custom-made mouthguard? Call 1st in Smiles at 972-905-9266 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Barfield.
