Do you or your child play contact sports like lacrosse, football, basketball, or soccer? You need a professional sports mouthguard. At Horizon Family Dental Care, we provide custom sports mouthguards in Baltimore, MD, and the surrounding areas. Mouthguards created by a professional help protect the teeth and soft tissues of the mouth. Athletes need to wear a mouthguard for any sports where there is contact between players. As a general dental treatment, mouthguards prevent future oral health issues from occurring.
What Are The Benefits of Custom Sports Mouthguards?
Compared to store-bought mouthguards, custom sports mouthguards conform to the teeth to protect the smile. Over-the-counter and “boil and bite” mouthguards can feel bulky in the mouth. These types of mouthguards can also slip and fall out during a game. It can be difficult for patients to communicate effectively when they are wearing a bulky mouthguard. Professionally made sports mouthguards make it easy to speak and drink comfortably. They are made of thick and durable plastic that stays in place for effective protection.
Receiving a Custom Sports Mouthguard
We take dental impressions for a mouthguard that provides a custom fit. These impressions are used to create customized sports mouthguards. Patients should clean their mouthguards after each use to stop the spread of harmful bacteria. Wash the mouthguard with warm soap and water. Do not use hot water as this can warp the plastic. Store the sports mouthguard and its ventilated container between each use.
Can Mouthguards Treat Bruxism?
Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is a common symptom of TMJ disorders. TMJ disorders are caused by a dysfunction of the temporomandibular joints which connect the jawbone and skull. We offer nightguards to stop teeth grinding and alleviate jaw pain. Even though nightguards act similarly to sports mouthguards, they are not the same. Do not use sports mouthguards to treat teeth grinding or any other symptoms of TMJ disorders.
Schedule a Dental Consultation Today
Protect your smile with a mouthguard custom-tailored to you. Request a dental appointment with us online. Please let us know if you have questions about mouthguard treatment and we can help.