Mouthguards and Dental Nightguards in Bowling Green

Have you ever pulled into a tight parking space and tapped the bumper of the car next to you? If you have—and who hasn’t?—then you know that a bumper is there for a reason: it absorbs the impact, thereby preventing damage to the body of your car. The same can similarly be said about a mouthguard or nightguard from Dr. Utz. Both of these are oral appliances are designed to absorb either impact or pressure that would otherwise damage your teeth.

Mouthguards

A mouthguard is a flexible custom-fitted oral appliance that is worn during athletic play and practice. The American Dental Association recommends a mouthguard for almost all sports, both impact and non-impact. So whether your chosen sport is football or basketball, track or gymnastics, a mouthguard can help you protect your teeth, lips, gums, cheeks and tongue while your play. For people wearing metal orthodontics, a mouthguard is particularly important in order to prevent lacerations to your lips, cheeks or tongue that can result from a blow to the face.

The mouthguard that Dr. Utz prescribes is completely comfortable because it is made just for you. Moreover, you will be able to breathe freely wearing your mouthguard, so your performance is actually enhanced and never compromised.

In addition, to protecting your mouth, a mouthguard has been shown to also guard against injuries to the jaw, neck and head. Recent studies, in fact, have shown that wearing a mouthguard can reduce the likelihood or severity of a concussion if one should happen. A concussion is a serious brain injury that affects about 200,000 Americans every year while playing sports. Thus, a mouthguard from Dr. Utz protects your oral health and your overall well-being.

Dental Nightguards

Similar to the protection that mouthguards provide during sports, a nightguard protects your teeth while you sleep. For people who grind or clench their teeth at night, the cumulative effects can be quite damaging to teeth. A nightguard can be custom-fitted to your upper or lower teeth in order to create a physical barrier that blocks your teeth from meeting. Although usually not as strong as a mouthguard, which must be able to withstand the force of a strong blow, a nightguard is strong enough to block the consequences of teeth grinding and clenching, also called bruxism.

To care for your mouthguard or nightguard, Dr. Utz recommends the following steps:

• Brush and floss your teeth before putting either appliance in your mouth
• Avoid biting down on your appliance and try to relax your jaw instead
• After wearing, you can wash your appliance with soap and cool water or brush with a soft toothbrush and toothpaste
• When not in use, store your mouthguard or nightguard in the plastic container we provide

Contact Our Office Today

If you would like more information about how a mouthguard or nightguard can protect your smile and even your overall general health, call the office of Dr. Derik Utz in Bowling Green, OH, and schedule a consultation. Our Bowling Green, OH dental practice welcomes patients from Pemberville, Perrsyburg, Rudolph, Waterville, and beyond.