Mouth Guards
Many of the dental conditions your kids encounter are beyond your control. But fitting them with customized dental guards if they play sports or a mouth guard for teeth grinding if necessary is one step you can take now to save time and money in the future. Mouth guards are one of many preventative dental care steps offered by Tiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry — in Woodbridge, New Jersey, in Harlem, NY and on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Call today for an appointment.
What Are Mouth Guards?
A dental mouth guard is a device that protects teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue from being injured. Sports are a great way to stay active, but athletes of all ages and skill levels are at increased risk of experiencing a dental injury. Kids mouth guards are most often used as a form of protection during sports. A mouth guard for teeth grinding also is common to protect your child’s teeth from damage.
To ensure your children stay as healthy as possible, add preventative dental care to the list of important appointments. In Woodbridge, New Jersey and in Manhattan,
an exceptional team of experienced kids’ dental professionals practices at Tiny Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. Dental guards are one of the many services available for your children.
What Causes Teeth Griding?
Bruxism is a condition that causes teeth clenching and grinding. It may happen either during sleep or while awake. The condition may have several different causes. Possible reasons children grind or clench their teeth include:
- Stress
- Teeth that aren’t aligned properly
- Tooth pain
Many people don’t realize they have bruxism. Signs that a person may be grinding their teeth include:
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Headaches
- Wearing away of tooth enamel
- Facial pain
When bruxism happens during sleep, it may be accompanied by other sleep conditions such as sleep apnea or snoring. Children sometimes outgrow bruxism, but until they do, your dentist may recommend a teeth grinding mouth guard.
What Are Different Types of Dental Guards?
The two main types of dental guards are those that are used to protect teeth from trauma and those that are used for patients who grind their teeth. A mouth guard intended to protect the teeth and mouth from injury looks and feels diffeent than a mouth guard for teeth grinding. Types of dental mouth guards include:
Your dentist has these created from an impression of your child’s mouth. They are worth the higher cost because they’re the most comfortable, and your children may actually wear them, and they offer the most protection.
These don’t offer much protection because they are one size fits all.
A hybrid between the other two types, these are stock dental guards that you place in boiling water before biting them to create an impression of the teeth.
Mouth guards usually fit the upper teeth since those are the ones most at risk of damage. If your child has braces, your pediatric dentist may recommend a lower mouth guard as well as an upper mouth guard.
