Dental Mouth Guard
Whether you play contact sports and need something to protect your mouth or you tend to grind your teeth at night, gum shields – also referred to as mouth guards – are the perfect solution. Read on to find out everything you need to know about custom-made gum shields.
What is a Custom Gum Shield?
As the name suggests, custom gum shields are tailor-made for your mouth. That means they provide the highest level of protection for your teeth and gums. In contrast, off-the-shelf models – while cheap and durable – are generally bulky and poorly fitting, which limits the amount of protection they provide.
What are the Benefits of Wearing a Dentist-Fitted Gum Shield?
Gum shields have two main functions:
- Providing protection to players of contact sports like football, hockey and rugby, in which there is a risk of injury to the facial tissue.
- Alleviating the symptoms of bruxism, commonly known as teeth grinding. It happens involuntarily, most often during sleep.
How are they Made?
To make your custom gum shield, we take highly precise measurements of your mouth to ensure that it fits securely over your teeth and gums.
While any type of gum shield will offer some level of protection to the wearer, custom gum shields – in other words, those fitted by a dentist – are far more effective. Because they are based on the exact measurements of your mouth, they provide a number of benefits:
- They fit your mouth comfortably without feeling bulky
- Breathing and swallowing are not prohibited
- It’s still possible to speak normally while wearing them
- Additionally, the high-quality materials from which they are made allow the gum shield to be thick enough to provide the protection you need, as well as being odourless and tasteless – not always the case in cheaper, off-the-shelf options.
How Long do they Last?
The lifespan of your custom gum shield will depend on your age. If you’re still growing, it is likely to need replacing quite regularly to accommodate for new and moving teeth. If not replaced, they can quickly become too tight or loose – either way, the level of protection they provide will be significantly reduced.
In older patients, the gum shield should last much longer. However, it will naturally suffer wear and tear over time. As such, we always recommend bringing it along to your regular dental checkups so that it can be examined and replaced if necessary.
Ollie & Darsh isn’t just a cosmetic dentist – we can be your general dentist too. To book an appointment for a regular checkup or to discuss being fitted for a custom gum shield, get in touch with our friendly team today!