Sport: Certain sport have a high risk of falling or resulting in facial injuries. A mouthguard can help protect your teeth and prevent them from injuring your lips and tongue. It’s especially important to wear a mouthguard if you play the following sports:
- rugby
- GAA
- soccer
- boxing
- basketball
- hockey
- gymnastics
- skateboarding
- cycling
Teeth Grinding: Teeth grinding and clenching are part of a condition called bruxism, which is a sleep-related movement disorder that can cause a variety of problems such as tooth pain, jaw pain and sore gums. It can also damage your teeth. Wearing a mouthguard while you sleep can help prevent damage to your enamel and dental restorations such as fillings or crowns as your teeth are separated by the mouthguard.
Sleep Apnea: This is a potentially serious sleeping disorder which can cause a person to stop breathing temporarliy in their sleep. This can result in the brain not receiveing enough oxygen and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. This can result in excessive snoring and leave you feeling groggy the following day. Some people with sleep apnea use a CPAP machine which keeps their airways open whilst they’re sleeping. However, if a patient has mild sleep apnea, a cutom-made mouthguard can provide a similar effect. Instead of simply covering your teeth a mouthguard for sleep apnea works by pushing your lower jaw and tongue forward, keeping your airway open. Some types have a strap that goes around your head and chin to re-adjust your lower jaw.
Snoring: Mouth-guards help reduce snoring, which occurs due to the vibration of soft tissue in your upper airway. Mouthguards pull the lower jaw forward to keep the airway open. If your snoring is interfering with your daily life, please call Smile Hub on 01- 5253888 or Book Online now to discuss your mouth-guard options with one of our highly skilled dentists.