Nightguards in Bellevue
Mouthguards Help Protect Teeth
Increased interest in keeping high school athletes safe has led coaches and students to focus on dental health. While a mouthguard used to be a rare sight at the high school stadium, many student-athletes are sporting these convenient dental protectors. The following guide will help you better understand this device and the nightguard, a closely related dental appliance.
What Are Mouthguards?
A mouthguard is a protective covering placed over the teeth during sports or sleep. Although nightguards are available in Bellevue, Seattle pharmacies, they aren’t the best choice because they are not custom fitted to your teeth. A poor fit can result in discomfort and increased bacterial or fungal buildup on the device.
Why Are Nightguards Useful?
While an athletic mouthguard offers some protection from injury, a nightguard is used to protect the teeth from bruxism or grinding the teeth at night. Some common symptoms of bruxism include:
- Waking up with a jaw, ear, or headache
- Worn tooth enamel
- Flattened, chipped, or loose teeth
- Increased tooth sensitivity to heat and cold
- Disrupted sleep
In addition to those with bruxism, some of our patients with gum disease or several crowns and implants also want extra nighttime protection for their teeth.
What Material Is Used in Mouthguards?
Dr. Bridget Singh makes athletic and night dental guards from hard acrylic designed to protect the teeth. Sometimes, she lines the inside of a mouthguard with a soft, flexible material for additional comfort.
How Are Nightguards Made?
Since our dental guards are custom fitted to your mouth, we begin by taking impressions of your upper and lower teeth. These impressions help us create a model for our dental lab to manufacture your guard. Although the lab works according to Dr. Singh’s prescription to make your mouthguard, when you come in to get it, we fine-tune the fitting if any portion of it rubs against your gums or doesn’t feel right.
How Do You Care for Mouthguards?
Since a mouthguard or nightguard is worn in your mouth, basic cleaning is as easy as brushing it with toothpaste. After thoroughly brushing your dental guard, place it on a soft cloth in a safe place to dry completely until you’re ready to use it again.
Do Nightguards Need Deep Cleaning?
We recommend a monthly deep cleaning to keep your nightguard in optimum condition. Soak your guard in warm water with a denture tab for an hour. Then, rinse thoroughly.
Protecting Smiles With Nightguards Is Easy
Whether you’re into sports or want to enjoy higher-quality sleep, a mouthguard is a convenient and effective way to save your smile. Contact Bridget Singh DDS in Bellevue, Seattle for personalized mouthguard guidance today and schedule an appointment.