If you are playing a contact sport, one of the pieces of equipment you use is a mouth guard. It makes sense when playing a contact sport to do this. The sports mouth guard can protect your teeth and gums when they are faced with some type of blunt force trauma. But athletes are not the only ones that can benefit from a sports mouthguard. They can help people in other ways even if they do not play a contact sport.

The first question you may ask is why you would use a sports mouth guard if you are not playing sports. The answer is you would wear it for the same reason you wear a mouth guard playing sports. Mouth guards protect the teeth, gums and jaws. These parts of your body are often at risk even if you don’t play sports. People prone to falls and other trauma may benefit from the use of a sports mouth guard. Anyone that feels their teeth and gums are in danger should consider using a mouth guard.

Mouth guards can also help with a variety of conditions. For people who suffer from sleep apnea, custom fit mouthguards and oral appliances can help keep the airway open. People that suffer from TMJ may use the mouth guards to protect their teeth. Anyone that grinds their teeth while they sleep can use a mouth guard to stop the grinding from causing damage to the teeth while they sleep.

Mouth guards are not perfect. They do not guarantee that your teeth and gums will not ever get damaged. They are awkward for some people to wear and they require you to actually use them. Despite their drawbacks, they can help people who want to keep their teeth and gums healthy and happy.

For more information about this or any other oral health issue, contact our office to schedule an appointment.