Yes, a custom mouth guard helps keep your teeth healthy for many years. It does more than just protect your teeth during sports. Mouth guards in Edmonton prevent injuries that can cause big problems later. When you wear a custom guard now, you’re taking care of your smile for decades to come.
Understanding What a Custom Mouth Guard Is
A custom mouth guard is a piece of plastic made just for your teeth. Your dentist takes a copy of your teeth by putting soft material in your mouth. This copy gets sent to a lab where workers make a guard that fits perfectly.
This is very different from the cheap guards you can buy at the store. Those loose guards move around and fall out. A custom guard stays tight because it matches your teeth exactly.
Most people think only athletes need mouth guards. That’s not true at all. Many people benefit from wearing one.
Who Should Wear a Mouth Guard?
Young Athletes Playing Sports
Kids and adults who play football, hockey, boxing, or rugby get hit a lot. Their teeth can get knocked out or cracked during games. Mouth guards near you protect their teeth from these hard impacts.
Adults Who Grind Their Teeth at Night
Many grown-ups grind their teeth while they sleep. They don’t know it’s happening. Over many years, this grinding wears their teeth down flat. It can also hurt their jaw.
Your dentist in Edmonton can make a special night guard. This guard stops your teeth from grinding against each other while you sleep.
People Who Clench Their Jaw
When you feel stressed or worried, you might clench your jaw tight without thinking about it. This squeezing pressure hurts your teeth and jaw over time. A custom guard takes away some of that pressure.
People After Dental Work
Sometimes after your dentist does work on your teeth, you need extra protection while they heal. A guard keeps them safe during this time.
How a Custom Guard Helps Your Teeth Stay Healthy for Life
Stops Big Dental Problems Before They Start
When a tooth gets knocked out or badly cracked, you need big repairs. You might need a root canal. You might need a crown or even an implant. These treatments cost lots of money.
A custom guard stops these injuries from happening in the first place. It’s much cheaper and easier to prevent damage than to fix it.
Protects Your Teeth From Wear and Tear
Grinding your teeth every night wears them down slowly. Year after year, your teeth get shorter and flatter. Eventually, your teeth might stop working right.
A guard protects your teeth from this slow wearing. Over ten, twenty, or thirty years, this protection makes a huge difference in how your teeth look and work.
Keeps Your Jaw Joints Happy
Your jaw joints work hard. You use them to chew, talk, laugh, and yawn every single day. When you clench your jaw tight, these joints get stressed and tired.
A custom guard reduces this stress. It keeps your jaw joints healthy so you don’t have pain or problems later in life.
Helps You Keep Your Own Teeth
People who play sports without protection often lose teeth. They need fake teeth to replace them. Fake teeth cost thousands of dollars and need special care.
A guard keeps your real teeth in your mouth where they belong. Your own teeth are always better than fake ones.
Keeps Your Tooth Enamel Strong
Your tooth enamel is the hard white coating on your teeth. Once it wears away, it never grows back. Grinding and clenching wear away your enamel. Getting hit in the mouth can damage it too.
A custom guard protects your enamel. Strong enamel means healthier teeth for your whole life.
How to Take Care of Your Custom Mouth Guard
Your guard will last much longer if you treat it right:
- After wearing it, rinse it with cool water.
- Use a gentle brush with soap to clean it lightly.
- When not being used, put it in a hard case.
- Never place it in warm water or leave it in the sun.
- Have it assessed by your dentist annually.
- Buy another one if it snaps or no longer fits.
A guard that’s taken care of can last three to five years. That makes it a smart choice for your health.
Visiting Your Dentist to Check Your Guard
You should see your dental clinic near you once a year. Your dentist will look at your guard to make sure it still fits right. They’ll check for cracks or damage.
Your mouth changes over time. Your guard might need to be adjusted or replaced. Your dentist can do that for you. Regular checkups help your guard work as well as it can.
Taking Care of Your Smile Today Means a Healthier Smile Tomorrow
At Albany Dental Clinic, we believe protecting your teeth now is one of the smartest investments you can make in your long-term health and happiness. Your smile matters, and we’re here to help you keep it healthy and strong for many years to come. book your appointment now.
Questions People Ask About Custom Mouth Guards
How can a custom mouth guard support long-term oral health?
A custom guard stops tooth injuries from happening, protects your teeth from wearing down while grinding, keeps your jaw joints healthy, and keeps your tooth enamel strong so your teeth work well for your whole life.
Who can benefit from wearing a custom mouth guard?
Athletes in contact sports, people who grind their teeth at night, people who clench their jaw when stressed, and anyone who wants to prevent tooth damage can benefit from wearing a custom guard.
How often should a custom mouth guard be replaced?
Most custom guards last three to five years if you take good care of them, but you should have your dentist check it every year and replace it sooner if it cracks or stops fitting right.
How can you take care of your custom mouth guard?
After wearing it, rinse it in cold water, brush it gently with a soft toothbrush, then store it in a case, keep it away from heat and sunlight, and have your dentist check it once every year.