What is a mouthguard?

A mouthguard is tailormade to you. It provides a protective cover which fits exactly over your teeth and gums to cushion and protect your teeth, gums and jaw from damage. Our Isle of Man orthodontists are expertly trained to craft the most comfortable mouthguard for your needs.

Why would I need a mouthguard?

It is advisable to wear a professionally made mouthguard if you play sports such as rugby, cricket, hockey and football. Impact to the face, either from a ball or another player, can cause shock waves to travel through your jaw leading to bone damage, or a direct hit can shatter or chip a tooth. In fact dental injuries are a common occurrence in these kinds of sports. A mouthguard will not help prevent chipping or breaking teeth as a result of impact, it will act as a shock absorber to help protect against a painful broken or dislocated jaw.

Mouthguards can also be custom made to wear at night if you are susceptible to clenching or grinding your teeth (bruxism). A mouthguard will not cure your bruxism, but if you have come to your Portman Dental & Implant Clinic dentist for guidance and advice on teeth grinding, they may offer a mouthguard as a method to provide relief from the pressure and the sound while you explore the causes. The application of a mouthguard will even out the pressure across your jaw as well as provide a barrier between your bottom and top teeth. The soft material means that it reduces wear on your teeth and also helps to diminish the grinding sound.

Maintaining your mouthguard

Scrub your mouthguard after every use with a soft toothbrush and toothpaste.
Keep it in its protective case when you are not wearing it.
Mouthguards are plastic, so keep it out of very hot water and the sun – these will cause it to melt and deform.
Make sure you regularly replace your mouthguard, not only for good hygiene but also to update it as your teeth naturally change and move.

A strong, durable mouthguard could last you years but, of course, the lifetime of your mouthguard depends on how well you care for it, and whether it takes any blows from your sporting activities. On average a mouthguard will last around six months to a year. If your teeth are still moving or coming through, then it is important to get your mouthguard replaced more regularly to ensure that it fits correctly.

What is a nightguard?

A nightguard is similar to a mouthguard but tailor made to suit you while you sleep. To find out more about our custom nightguards, please get in touch with our team.