Mouth Guard Singapore
A mouth guard is a thin, horseshoe-shaped dental item that is worn over the teeth to protect the mouth from injury in contact sports like soccer, boxing and ice hockey, or Bruxism (grinding of teeth).
Mouthguards are essential in sports where potentially dangerous impacts to the face and teeth are possible, and can reduce the damage of concussion from jaw injuries.
Mouthguards can also act as a splint for inflamed temporomandibular (jaw) joints to reduce pain, and prevent damage from grinding or gnashing of teeth during sleep.
For sports enthusiasts or people diagnosed with Bruxism or temporomandibular disorder, a mouthguard can help prevent long-term dental problems.
Cost of Mouth Guard
This is a fee estimate & subject to change. Please check with your clinician
for an exact fee based on your unique clinical condition.
| Soft | S$ 350 |
|---|
| Hard Acrylic | S$ 500 |
|---|
Customising the Mouth Guard
What is a Custome-made mouthguard?
We provide custom-made mouthguards for adults and children. These are made by a dentist to precisely suit your tooth structure. They are typically more comfortable than the ones you can buy from a store because they are made to fit your teeth. Custom mouth mouthguards offer reliable protection against bruxism and sports-related injuries. They frequently serve as the first line of defence in the management of sleep apnea. (Custom-made mouthguards are usually more costly, but they last longer compared to store-bought guards.)
Getting a custom-made mouth guard usually requires two visits to your dentist. A dentist will obtain impressions of the teeth. (For this stage, they will use dental putty or a digital handheld device.) Next, we’ll submit your impressions to our dental laboratory, where a technician will fabricate them to match your teeth structure. This process can sometimes take up to two weeks.
Your second visit will be to make sure it fits after it comes back from the lab. Lastly, the dentist will cut down any rough edges and make any other changes that are needed to get the shape and size just right for you. Getting a guard made by a dentist ensures that it fits well and is aligned with the shape of your teeth. This gives you and your kids the best safety while you sleep and play.
In contrast, many ask about the boil and bite mouthguards. These can be directly purchased from the store. This substance can be heated and when bitten to make it fit the teeth. These guards are easy to find and don’t cost much. But they won’t fit well and will not be comfortable as custom-made mouthguards.
Types of Mouth Guards
Sleep Mouthguards/Nightguards
If you wake up and your jaw muscles seem a little sore and you’re getting jaw pain and if this frequently happens, you might need to see a dentist. Your dentist may also notice that your enamel is worn or that your fillings are chipped or cracked. Most of the time, these are the first signs that you grind or bite your teeth while you sleep.
A nightguard works by keeping the teeth’s surfaces from getting worn down over time by habits like bruxism (grinding teeth) and clenching. Also, nightguards reduce jaw strain and headaches caused by bad habits like grinding your teeth. A night guard may be made of hard acrylic plastic that can resist grinding for a long time. A dental night guard only needs to cover the occlusal area of your teeth,
Sports Mouth Guards
Did you know that the chance of getting hurt while playing sports is much lower if you wear a mouthguard that fits well? The Singapore Dental Health Foundation says that it can help avoid accidents in contact sports like football, hockey, rugby, basketball, biking, karate, judo, etc. These keep your teeth from getting hurt while playing sports.
Mouth guards are made of soft, shock-absorbing materials that help ease a blow to your teeth. If you wear braces, you are more likely to get hurt while playing sports. You should wear a mouth guard made to fit over your braces to protect your soft tissue from getting hurt when your braces touch your mouth.
Before you go to the dentist, you should always check with your sports coach if you need one. Sports mouthguards often need to be changed because your child’s mouth is still growing and it will naturally wear down over the course of a sports season. And don’t forget to bring your mouthguard to the dentist every six months. You’ll be ahead of the game if you take this precaution and have a professional check to see if it still fits.
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
What is teeth grinding?
Teeth grinding (Bruxism) is a common dental problem in modern society, and can happen when you’re awake, it is called awake bruxism. Also, it can happen unconsciously when you’re asleep (sleep bruxism). While mild Bruxism often involves the clenching, grinding or gnashing of teeth, it is often not a cause for concern.
However, for more severe cases, Bruxism (grinding or clenching) can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth, sleep disorders and other problems,
Signs and symptoms
Teeth grinding can cause pain in the jaw and in the neck. When you grind your teeth, the muscles get tight.
Another sign could be headaches in the morning that feel like stress headaches.
Damage to teeth that can’t be explained can also be a sign that you bite and grind your teeth at night.
Sleep bruxism, or grinding your teeth while you are asleep. But, you might not know that you grind your teeth while you sleep.
Should I worry about teeth grinding?
Our teeth can deteriorate prematurely due to tooth grinding and tightening. So it’s crucial that we spot them early and take care of them.
Grinding your teeth shortens and quickly wears down your teeth, which causes facial changes like loss of vertical height and shortness of the lower face. (below the nose to chin area will look shorter)
The teeth cannot recover like other hard structures in the body like bones or nails can. This means that any harm to the teeth, such as cracks or chips, is irrevocable and everlasting.
How do I stop grinding my teeth?
An occlusal splint can help protect the surfaces of your teeth from attrition or occlusal wear. Occlusal splints are similar to mouthguards. They are also known as “night guards” or “bite splints”. When worn, this acts as a splint for inflamed temporomandibular (jaw) joints to reduce pain and prevents damage to your natural teeth from grinding or gnashing teeth (Bruxism).
Benefits and Risks
Advantages
If you wear a one during contact sports and other physical activities, you can avoid:
- Chipped Teeth
- Teeth knocked out.
- Your tooth pulp is unharmed
- Your mouth, lips, and inner cheeks get safeguarded
If you wear a mouth guard to bed, you may be less likely to:
- Avoid wear and tear on your teeth from squeezing and grinding them.
- Help with snoring
- Help against TMJ problems that cause pain in the jaw, the head, and the face
- Reducing stress, sleep apnea and the problems that come with it, like high blood pressure, and feeling tired during the day can be avoided
Side effects
If you have never worn a mouthguard before, you will need some time to get used to it. During this time, it may feel bulky and make your teeth and gums sore. You will also probably drool more. Once you get used to wearing it these feelings will go away.
If you buy one that doesn’t quite fit right, it can make your teeth, gums, or mouth hurt. Most of the time, mouthguards that are made just for you are more comfortable than ones you buy in a store. Your dentist can check your mouthguard and make any changes that are needed.
You might be worried about sleeping with a plastic piece in your mouth. just like with anything new, you must wear your mouthguard regularly for at least a month in order to make it a nighttime routine.
Caring for Your Mouth Guard
Just like you brush your teeth every day to get rid of germs, you’ll need to clean and sanitize your mouthguard after each time you wear it. It would help if you used a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean your guard after you wore it. Rinse it well and soak it in an antibacterial solution once or twice a week, like mild mouthwash or denture cleaner. Make sure it’s dry and put it in a case with holes so it can breathe. Check for cracks or rough edges so that your mouthguard doesn’t hurt your gums or hold germs.
- Before and after each use, rinse your mouthguard with cool water or mouthwash, or use a toothbrush and gentle soap to sanitize it
- To keep or move the mouth guard, put it in a sturdy, perforated receptacle. This enables airflow and the chance of harm. Keep the mouth shield in fresh, clear water if it is made of acrylic
- To prevent it from losing its form, keep it away from hot objects, hot water, and direct sunshine
- Check for overall wear from time to time. Replace it if you discover any rips or gaps in it if it becomes loose or uncomfortable
- Bring the mouth shield to every routine dental appointment so that your doctor can examine it
How often to wear a Mouth Guard
It relies on why a mouth shield is necessary. You should wear one during all workouts and competitions if you require one to safeguard your teeth during impact sports. However, you’ll probably need to use it every night while you sleep if you have sleep apnea, snoring, or tooth grinding that needs to be treated. The dentist will educate you once the treatment starts.
Braces and Mouth Guard
Yes. In addition to protecting your teeth, it can protect braces, dental implants and other dental restorations (like crowns and bridges) from damage. Custom-fitted mouthguards work best. They fit the unique shape of braces or implants.
Is mouth guard the right choice for me?
Book an appointment with our dentist, and after a thorough checkup, we’ll let you know if a mouth guard is the best solution for your teeth problem.
We all know that cleaning and brushing our teeth every day is enough to keep our oral health in good shape. But problems like TMD, sleep apnea, and teeth biting can happen when you least expect it. So it’s best to see a dentist, and if he or she tells you to wear a mouth guard, you’ll need to make the time and effort to do so if you want to keep your teeth healthy and in good condition.