Mouth Guards in London

Having a beautiful smile can certainly be an asset in life, and whether your gorgeous grin is completely natural, or has been enhanced through cosmetic dentistry, you’ll want to make sure your teeth are well protected.

Depending on your particular requirements, you might want to consider getting a custom-made mouth guard to help care for your teeth. Here at Museum Dental Suites, we can discuss your situation and, if suitable, have a mouth guard made to fit your teeth.

Why do I need a mouth guard?

Also known as mouth protectors, mouth pieces, night guards, occlusal splints or bite planes, mouth guards are designed to protect the inside of your mouth. There are many reasons that your dentist may recommend wearing a mouth guard, with some of the most common including:

Preventing dental trauma

Mouth guards are often worn in contact sports such as boxing, rugby and hockey to prevent chipped teeth, as well as other injuries to the lips, cheeks and gums.

Tooth grinding

Also known as bruxism, tooth grinding is typically related to stress – although a number of other contributing factors can also lead to the habit. Since most people who grind their teeth do so during their sleep, wearing a mouth guard can help to prevent teeth from being worn down or otherwise injured.

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ dysfunction)

Commonly associated with pain and dysfunction of the muscles involved with chewing and moving the jaw, TJD is thought to affect between 20 and 30 per cent of people. Although TMJ dysfunction is actually a symptom of other issues, and not a condition in itself, mouth guards have been found to help alleviate the discomfort and other issues.

Protecting dental appliances

For those who have veneers, dental implants or other cosmetic dentistry treatments, mouth guards can be worn to help protect the various pieces during sleep.

Fitting and Care

Mouth guards are usually worn on the upper teeth only, but in some cases, your dentist may recommend you wear the guard on your lower teeth as well.

Although DIY mouth guards can be purchased from a number of different suppliers, having one custom-fitted by a dentist can provide better results, as it will be professionally made to suit your specific requirements. It will also be more comfortable and provide better protection.

Getting a mouth guard fitted is a simple and pain-free task. Your dentist will simply take an impression of your teeth using a special compound. The impression will then be sent to a lab where the mouth guard will be manufactured.

Once the mouth guard has been created, your dentist will have you back for another appointment to give it to you and ensure that it fits well. They will also explain when you should wear the mouth guard and how to care for it – this involves rinsing it thoroughly after every use and storing it in a firm and perforated container.

Contact Museum Dental Suites to find out more

If you think a mouth guard could help to improve your dental health, or are looking for a friendly and professional dentist, contact Museum Dental Suites today on 0207 183 0886.

Based in the heart of central London, our suites have been designed to help ensure patients feel relaxed and at ease from the moment they step through our doors. What’s more, appointments are available seven days a week, so you can always get seen, at a time that suits your busy schedule.

Review of using a Michigan Splint Mouthguard

Using my mouthguard at night has become an invisible yet indispensable part of my daily dental routine. Modern techniques mean mouthguards fit with a made-to-measure precision and their maintenance is extremely user and time-friendly, requiring only a toothbrush and toothpaste to keep them clean.

As someone who grinds their teeth at night It serves several extremely important purposes, namely, to immediately halt any further damage to one’s own teeth, and to reduce inflammatory maxillofacial muscle pains and jaw aches from grinding at night.

I find consequently that using my mouthguard also ensures a better night sleep, I therefore have more energy in the day-time, and my productivity is greatly enhanced, when I would previously otherwise be taking anti-inflammatory pain medications.

There are range of mouthguards that can all provide some remedial benefit to anyone who suffers from teeth grinding/bruxism and their suitability is best decided between patient and dentist.

However, my own experience comes from using a Michigan Splint mouthguard that supports and encourages the wearer to limit their jaw motion at night, which means the jaw muscles cannot become over-developed, and gradually become more calibrated as the pressure on the teeth is distributed more evenly. The jaw movement itself also becomes more stabilised with wear and further refinement of the mouthguard over time.

The benefits of a mouthguard are mutually reinforcing and self-perpetuating. In summary, they are invaluable to anyone who suffers with teeth grinding and bruxism.

- Harry

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