Mouthguards are dental gears that shield teeth, gums, tongue, and cheeks from abrasion resulting from teeth grinding or sporting activities. Teeth grinding is also referred to as bruxism. Patients wear soft or hard mouthguards on the lower or upper sets of teeth. Other names for mouthguards are snore guards or nightguards.
Conditions managed by mouthguards:
Bruxism
Bruxism, especially sleep bruxism, is an unconscious teeth grinding condition that might leave you with headaches, jaw pain, earaches, fractured teeth, and unappealing facial structure. Bruxism is a condition treated at our offices.
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition in which your breathing stops while asleep. Sleep apnea manifests in three types, one being central sleep apnea. Although uncommon, it halts your breathing which signals that the brain is not transmitting breathing commands to the throat. However, the most common type of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, occurs when the throat muscles collapse and limit the passage of air. Under such circumstances, you may snore or completely stop breathing. While not impossible, some you may have both types of sleep apnea— a condition referred to as complex sleep apnea. Our dentist will assist you in managing sleep apnea.
Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
TMJ victimizes the joint connecting the jaw to the skull (otherwise known as the temporomandibular joint) or the jaw muscles. If your jaw pops when open, you experience facial swelling, painful jaw, neck, face, or shoulders, or a locking jaw; you might be suffering from the temporomandibular joint syndrome. However, a mouthguard prescribed by our dentist may reduce these symptoms if you fall victim to clenching or locking your jaw during sleep.
Types of mouthguards
Stock mouthguards are manufactured for the general population and may not fit or may contribute to breathing difficulties. However, the sliding pieces of over-the-counter mouthguards idle between teeth during sleep. The recommended mouthguard is a custom mouthguard made by a dentist to offer the best protection and perfectly fit your teeth.
Delays are expensive. If your career or health relies on a mouthguard, call our offices and get a mouthguard designed for you.
Cooley Smiles, 10627 19th Ave SE, Suite B, Everett, WA 98208-5147 ^ (425) 249-3509 ^ cooleysmileseverett.com ^ 12/12/2024 ^ Related Terms: dentist Everett WA ^
Mouthguards are dental gears that shield teeth, gums, tongue, and cheeks from abrasion resulting from teeth grinding or sporting activities. Teeth grinding is also referred to as bruxism. Patients wear soft or hard mouthguards on the lower or upper sets of teeth. Other names for mouthguards are snore guards or nightguards.