| Dental Armour
Are Mouthguards Supposed to Stick to Your Teeth?
Your teeth and gums are very sensitive, and potentially, very vulnerable parts of your body, which is why it’s so important to ensure that they’re protected and well looked after at all times.
Your teeth are particularly vulnerable to all manner of issues, including trauma, decay, infection, and sensitivity. If issues arise in and around the teeth, this could potentially lead to further complications with the gums, including abscesses and infections, and nobody wants that, right?
While mouthguards can’t really offer much protection in terms of infection and decay, they can certainly offer protection against damage due to trauma, and the ill-effects of bruxism (teeth grinding) which is what we’re talking about today.
Mouthguards offer a number of benefits, they’re easy to fit by a professional dentist, and they’re easy to maintain. But what exactly are they, and are mouthguards supposed to stick to your teeth? Well, let’s take a look, shall we?
What are the benefits of mouthguards?
If you’re concerned you might need a mouthguard you may wish to familiarise yourself with some of the many benefits that these simple, yet highly effective devices can provide.
Below are three proven benefits of mouthguards:
1. Pain prevention
One of the best things about a mouthguard is the fact that it can provide such fantastic pain prevention benefits.
Mouthguards help to protect against the ill-effects of teeth grinding and severe bruxism, which can cause jaw pain and headaches.
2. Protect the teeth against damage
Mouthguards are simple dental devices which are worn over the teeth to protect the teeth, gums, and mouth from damage.
Mouthguards can be worn during sport to help protect them, plus they can also be worn at night to help protect against teeth grinding and clenching.
3. Improved oral aesthetics
Another fantastic benefit of mouthguards is the fact that they can help to improve the overall appearance of your teeth. Mouthguards help to keep the teeth aligned, they prevent the teeth from being chipped, damaged, or knocked out, plus they help to prevent bruxism which can lead to chipped teeth.
4 ways to check the fit of your mouthguard
If you do try a mouthguard, you might be asking the question of are mouthguards supposed to stick to your teeth? You might also be wondering whether your mouthguard fits as it should.
To help you along, here are 4 ways to check the fit of your mouthguard.
- Is your speech clear?
A professional mouthguard should not negatively impact your speech. If you are struggling to speak clearly because of your mouthguard, there’s a strong chance that the fit is wrong.
- Are you clenching or biting?
If you find yourself clenching your jaw, or biting down on the mouthguard, you’re doing this because it doesn’t feel right. A good quality mouthguard should fit snugly, but you shouldn’t really be able to feel that it’s there.
- Are your gums protected?
A mouthguard not only protects the teeth, it also protects the gums. If your teeth are covered but your gums are vulnerable and exposed, your mouthguard doesn’t fit right.
- Are you gagging?
Obviously, if you are gagging because of your mouthguard, whether you have a weak gag reflex or not, this is a sign that your mouthguard does not fit right.
Should a mouthguard stick to your teeth?
Yes.
A good quality mouthguard should stay firmly and securely attached to the teeth without slipping, falling, or coming out of place.
It obviously doesn’t need to stick like glue, but it should not wobble or move from the teeth. If it does, it’s likely too big.
Order your custom Dental Armour mouthguard now
If you’re worried about your teeth becoming damaged, or if you suffer from bruxism or any similar condition, don’t sit and suffer in silence, give the friendly team at Dental Armour a call on (08) 9349 3006 and let us take care of your mouthguard issues for you.
We can provide you with the perfect mouthguard that will protect the teeth, mouth, and gums, stay in place, and feel comfortable in the process.