Dental Advice for the Sweet Tooth

Hey! I'm Frankie, and welcome to my dental advice blog. I'm a foodie and I love sweet treats, but I also love my teeth! It can be hard to keep your dental health in top condition when you've got a sweet tooth, but it's not impossible. Over the years, I've learned tons of great advice from friends, family members and dentists, and I'd love to share it with you. My blog is here to give you all the tips and tricks you need to stay free of decay and other tooth problems without giving up all your favourite foods and snacks.

Why Do Dentists Recommend Mouth Guards?

Dentist Blog

Mouth guards are devices which help to look after your teeth and gums. As such, they represent something of a misnomer in that they don't always provide overall mouth protection. That said, they can be extremely useful in a wide variety of situations and your dentist may recommend the use of one depending on your lifestyle and any treatment that you might be undergoing. If your dentist says you ought to be using one, then what are the most likely reasons?

  • Bruxism

If you grind your teeth against one another, then the enamel will eventually wear down to the extent that it can be like suffering from severe tooth decay in the end. Dental professionals refer to this activity as bruxism. The problem with it is that it can be an involuntary action that you don't simply get out of the habit of. Many people with bruxism will grind their teeth against one another at night when they are asleep, causing their jaw to ache as well as damage to their enamel. By using a mouth guard at night, it helps to protect the teeth from wear. It should also mean your jaw suffers less because you are grinding against a softer material.

  • Dental Damage

Lots of lifestyle choices could put you into a higher risk category of tooth damage from trauma. Anyone who takes part in activities that could lead to impacts to the head may benefit from a mouth guard. For example, rugby players and boxers often wear them to prevent blows from causing localised damage. Essentially, any impact that lands on a guard will help to spread out the force of it so that it potentially saves a tooth from being knocked out. Some types of trauma can also cause your teeth to clamp down on one another, so well-fitted guards can also help to prevent your teeth from harming the soft tissues inside the mouth, especially the tongue. Martial artists, skiers, hockey players and Aussie rules footballers often sport them for this reason.

  • Dental Treatment

In some cases, your dentist may ask you to wear a mouth guard to protect some ongoing dental work in your mouth. A guard may be issued to you to wear at night, for example, if you are having bridgework completed. During certain bleaching processes, guards are also used so that the bleaching agent remains on the teeth it is treating and so it doesn't spread to other parts of the mouth, including other teeth that do not need to be whitened.

For more information reach out to your local dentist.

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13 May 2019