What Are Mouth Guards?

 Mouth guards are coverings worn over teeth. They're often used to protect teeth from injury from teeth grinding and during sports. You might also need a mouth guard if you have a jaw problem, snore, or have sleep apnea (a condition that causes pauses in breathing while you sleep). There are many types of mouth guards. Both children and adults can wear them. 

 These are individually designed and made in a dental office or a professional laboratory based on your dentist's instructions. First, your dentist 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, a custom-made mouth guard is more expensive than the other types, but it provides the most comfort and protection. 

 Generally, mouth guards cover your upper teeth only, but in some instances (such as if you wear braces or another fixed dental appliance on your lower jaw), your dentist will make a mouth guard for the lower teeth as well. Your dentist can suggest the best mouth guard for you. An effective mouth guard should be comfortable, resist tears, be durable and easy to clean, and shouldn't affect your breathing or speech.

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.

 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. But 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. 

Mouth guard for clenching

Adults and children who grind their teeth at night should have a nocturnal bite plate or bite splint made to prevent tooth damage. A mouth guard can position your jaw to lessen the damage caused by clenching and grinding. A mouth guard can also give your jaw muscles a break from tensing up, which may ease pain.

• Sleep apnea
• Snoring
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders