What is a Mouth Guard? Do I Need One?

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If you play sports the answer is YES! Mouth guards are coverings worn over teeth, and often used to protect teeth from injury from teeth grinding and during sports. Mouth guards should be used by anyone -- children and adults -- who play contact sports such as football, boxing, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey. However, even those participating in noncontact sports (for example, gymnastics) and any recreational activity (for example, skateboarding, mountain biking) that might pose a risk of injury to the mouth would benefit from wearing a protective mouth guard.

There are three types of mouth guards. The right one depends on what you need it for:

Stock mouth guards - are preformed and come ready to wear. They are relatively inexpensive and can be bought at most sporting good stores. The bad news is that little can be done to adjust their fit, they are often bulky, make breathing and talking difficult, and they provide little protection. We usually do not recommend their use.

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Boil and bite mouth guards – These can also can be bought at many sporting goods stores and actually offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. The "boil and bite" mouth guard is made from thermoplastic material. It is placed in hot water to soften, then placed in the mouth and shaped around the teeth using finger and tongue pressure. They offer better protection than the stock kind but are often uncomfortable.

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Custom-fitted mouth guards -  These are individually designed and made in our dental office or a professional laboratory based on your dentist's instructions. We first will make an impression of your teeth and a mouth guard is then molded over the model using a special material. Due to the use of the special material and because of the extra time and work involved, this custom-made mouth guard is more expensive than the other types. These guards provide the most comfort and protection for your teeth. These is the reason that professional athletes prefer these.

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Most mouth guards are designed to cover your upper teeth only, but in some instances (such as if you wear braces or another fixed dental appliance on your lower jaw), we will make a mouth guard for the lower teeth as well. A good mouth guard should be comfortable, resist tears, be durable and easy to clean, and should not restrict your breathing or speech.

There are other kinds of mouth guards for people that grind their teeth. If you grind your teeth at night, a special mouth guard-type of dental appliance -- called a nocturnal bite plate or bite splint -- may be created to prevent tooth damage.

Who Needs a Bite Plate Mouth Guard?

If you grind your teeth at night, then this is for you. Adults and children who grind their teeth at night should have a nocturnal bite plate or bite splint made to prevent tooth damage.

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If you or someone you know needs a good quality custom mouth guard, please call our office. Miami Beach Teeth Whitening

Visit our website www.PreciousSmiles.com. For more information on other dental related issues like dental bonding, veneers, and dental implants to a complete spectrum of dental services, Dr. Isidoros Mereos offers Miami residents quality dental services ranging from cosmetic dentistry, general dentistry, to implant dentistry, dental veneers, and more.

Dr. Mereos is a great dentist in Miami and his patients say he is friendly and comforting and always happy to take the time to answer any questions.

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Miami Beach dentist, Dr. Mereos, and the Precious Smiles team look forward to meeting with you and developing a plan tailored to meet your individual needs. “We take pride in helping our patients achieve the best results in the least amount of time possible.”

You can make an appointment with our cosmetic dentist by calling our friendly staff at (305) 532-9114 or by visiting http://www.precioussmiles.com. Please don't hesitate to contact Precious Smiles if you have any questions about cosmetic dentistry, veneers, Invisalign, tooth whitening, or dental implants.

Precious Smiles Cosmetic Dentistry Center -Miami Beach
http://www.precioussmiles.com
Miami dentist, Miami Beach dentist
(305) 532-9114
1315 Alton Rd.
Miami Beach, Fl 33139

Dr. Mereos is a Miami dentist that serves, Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, North Miami Beach, and North Miami dentist in Miami