In my 25 years as a dentist, I find our society has more stress now than ever before. A couple years back, I did a study with one of our hygienists. We surveyed all of our patients over the age of 25, we verbally polled them to see if they knew of any grinding or clenching, and we also looked for the clues in their mouth. We looked for wear spots, we looked for chips on their teeth and chips on their work. We found that about 80% of our patients over the age of 25 grinded their teeth. Grinding or clenching can create headaches, it can beat up your teeth, it can create TMJ problems, it can ruin my dental work, and it is important to treat it. If you’re in your adult teeth, it’s the last set of teeth you’re gonna get, and I would rather see you protect them than get all new stuff. One of the most diagnosed phenomenons in dentistry is reflux, or GERD. One of the first places that reflux shows is on your enamel, and if you are grinding your teeth in the presence of acid coming up from your stomach, it leaves little divots in your teeth. So we can communicate with the MD that we’re finding a person that could possibly have reflux, and then the MD can treat this person. I always say, “If the hardest substance in our body is enamel, and the reflux is destroying it, what could it be doing to the lining of your esophagus?” So it’s important to treat that, as well as the grinding or clenching.
Protect Your Teeth With Oakmont, PA Mouthguards
At Oakmont Advanced Dentistry, our job is to take great care of your smile. That involves seeing you regularly for dental checkups, but it also includes preventive services that will keep your smile safe. Our mouthguards in Oakmont, PA are designed to protect your teeth and gums from damage, whether you’re an athlete or someone who suffers from a teeth grinding habit known as bruxism. A custom mouthguard can help you:
- Minimize the risk for sports-related dental injuries
- Avoid painful or embarrassing dental damage
- Save you time, money, and stress of sudden or costly dental care
- Prevent the premature wear and tear of your teeth
- Maintain your bright, healthy smile
Call us today for an appointment: 412-206-6825. We’re located at 200 Allegheny River Blvd. – just down the street from The Oaks Theater.
Mouthguards Play an Essential Role in Dental Care & Prevention
You want to do what’s best for your family’s smiles. We do, too! That’s why we follow the recommendations of the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and suggest wearing a mouthguard for all high-impact sports. In fact, the ADA says that athletes who don’t have the right teeth protection are 60 times more likely to suffer dental damage than those who do.
If you or your child play a sport or regularly engage in athletic activity, then do your teeth a favor – get them some protection! High-impact sports include any sport that involves:
- Sudden changes in speed or direction (like running, skating, and biking)
- Frequent jumping
- Flying objects like balls and pucks
- Physical contact between athletes (combat and contact sports)
A custom mouthguard is more comfortable and provides a greater level of protection than a stock or boil-and-bite mouthguard. Plus, if you are an orthodontic patient, a mouthpiece made just for you will accommodate your braces or aligners better.
You or a loved one may also benefit from a custom mouthguard to prevent dental wear and tear from teeth grinding. If you grind your teeth and clench your jaw, you may not even realize you’re doing it because it happens more commonly while you sleep. This can damage your tooth enamel and has also been linked to migraine and tension headaches. Wearing a custom-made mouthguard protects your smile against grinding and alleviates headaches and other unpleasant symptoms.
For mouthguards in Oakmont, PA, call us at 412-206-6825 for an appointment. Skip a trip to the sporting goods store, and head over to Oakmont Advanced Dentistry to protect your favorite smiles!
The most common reason to wear a mouthguard is to protect your teeth and gums while playing sports. Whether you’re participating in a contact sport or not, a well-made mouthguard is your best defense against blows to the mouth, teeth, gums, and jaw. Mouthguards can also alleviate symptoms of teeth grinding, TMJ disorders, and even obstructive sleep apnea.
Yes, mouthguards from an experienced dentist are designed to fit over your upper and lower teeth so that as you sleep, your jaw stays in a forward position to properly realign the joint, as well as prevent you from clenching down and putting excess pressure on your TMJ during the night.
If you have sleep apnea, we can fit you with a custom mouthguard that fits comfortably in your mouth while you sleep. It will gently move your lower jaw forward a bit to help keep your tongue and the soft tissues in the back of your throat from blocking your airway during sleep. The result will be easier breathing with reduced or no snoring and fewer or no sleep apnea episodes.