Most patients are familiar with what mouthguards are and what function they serve for different sets of patients. Patients that engage in contact sports on a regular basis, those with TMJ disorder, are those that grind their teeth while they sleep are wonderful candidates for mouthguards. There are however more reasons than these alone to get a mouthguard from your dental professional. To begin, let’s discuss what a mouth guard is exactly.

What is a Mouth Guard?

A mouthguard is usually made of soft plastic or laminate that is customized to fit your teeth and is used in sports to prevent oral injuries to the teeth, mouth, cheeks, tongue, and jaw. According to the American Dental Association, the use of a mouthguard can prevent up to 200,000 oral injuries to the mouth each year.

Without a mouth guard one can face the following injuries:

• Chipped or broken teeth
• Fractured crowns
• Lip and cheek injuries
• Tooth root damage
• Concussions

Why Do I Need It?

Being that there are so many possibilities for injury, it is important to take the precautionary measures in order to keep your mouth, teeth, and gums all safe for the future. You only get one set of teeth to take care of them. If you would have liked a mouthguard or would like to ask a dental professional about mouthguards, feel free to contact us at NW Austin Family Dental in Austin, TX. We would love to hear from you!