At Luka Dental Care, we make custom mouth guards in London, Ontario, at our office on Aldersbrook Road. Night guards protect against grinding, and sports guards protect against hits during play.
Anyone who plays a sport with a risk of injury should wear a mouth protector. Sports like basketball, baseball, gymnastics, and volleyball all pose risks to your gum tissues, as well as your teeth. We usually think of football and hockey as the most dangerous to the teeth, but mouth injuries happen in basketball and baseball too.
A helmet can prevent serious injuries such as concussions, cerebral hemorrhages, incidents of unconsciousness, jaw fractures and neck injuries by helping to avoid situations where the lower jaw gets jammed into the upper jaw. Mouth guards are effective in moving soft tissue in the oral cavity away from the teeth, preventing laceration and bruising of the lips and cheeks, especially for those who wear orthodontic appliances.
Mouth protectors, which typically cover the upper teeth, can cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth. If you wear braces or another fixed dental appliance on your lower jaw, a mouth protector is available for these teeth as well.
A properly fitted mouth protector may be especially important for people who wear braces or have fixed bridge work. A blow to the face could damage the brackets or other fixed orthodontic appliances. A mouth protector also provides a barrier between the braces and your cheek or lips, limiting the risk of soft tissue injuries. Although mouth protectors typically only cover the upper teeth, your dentist or orthodontist may suggest that you use a mouth protector on the lower teeth if you have braces on these teeth too. If you have a retainer or other removable appliance, do not wear it during any contact sports.
There are three types of mouth protectors:
A custom night guard cushions your teeth against the force of grinding. For patients with jaw disorders and TMD, it also eases load on the joint and lets the surrounding muscles relax. It is the most common starting point for managing teeth grinding and bruxism.
When the grinding stems from a joint problem, we pair the guard with TMJ treatment for a more durable result.
A good night guard is firm and smooth. Your top and bottom teeth touch it evenly on both sides, which lets your jaw muscles relax.
First, we check your teeth and bite and take an impression or a 3D scan. Our lab is in the same building, so your guard is made a few steps from where it is fitted.
At the fitting, you bite and slide on the guard while we check it. We smooth any high spots before you go home.
A new guard can feel big for the first few nights. Most people get used to it within a week or two.
A guard should never make your jaw hurt more. If it does, bring it in and we will adjust it.
Rinse your guard after each use and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush. Let it dry, then store it in its case, away from heat.
Bring it to your checkups so we can look for cracks and wear.
Call us if your guard cracks or starts to feel loose. Let us know too if your jaw feels worse after you start wearing it.
You can reach us at 519-472-4460. We are open Monday and Tuesday from 10 to 7, and Wednesday and Thursday from 8 to 5.
A custom guard fits your teeth closely, so it moves less and is easier to wear. Store-bought guards cost less, but they often fit loosely and feel bulky.
A guard that fits poorly can. Our post on whether a night guard can make TMJ worse explains the signs and what to do.
Yes. A hit to the face can push brackets into your lips and cheeks, so a guard helps even more. Ask us which guard works best while your braces are on.
It depends on how hard you grind or how often you play. Bring your guard to each checkup, and we will tell you when it is time for a new one.
