What is the difference between a sports mouth guard and a dental mouth guard?

A mouthguard might not seem too complicated, but the build of a mouthguard determines its very different possible uses. 

Should you use any mouth guard to protect your teeth from Bruxism (chronic teeth-grinding)? Can you use your dental mouthguard while playing football?

The overarching answer to those questions is - no! Different types of mouthguards are not interchangeable. To know why, it helps to understand their various purposes.

Sports Mouthguards

Sports mouthguards are constructed in a way that takes a traumatic impact that would otherwise hurt your teeth. They are protective gear from trauma primarily, combining shock absorption and stress redistribution in a way that makes them necessary for sports.

Their purpose means that they are a little bit clunky and uncomfortable. If you were to wear a sports guard at night to assist with protection from teeth-grinding, you would find they can cause breathing difficulties, as well as be tough to ignore.

Dental Mouthguards

Dental mouthguards provide an entirely different type of protection. Bruxism, the dental term for chronic teeth-grinding, occurs the most at night. You want your night guard to be easy to ignore while sleeping.

A dentist can create a mouthguard for you that fits snuggly to your teeth and allows for easy breathing. Dental mouthguards are proven to assist with the troubles that come from Bruxism. They are likely to alleviate dental pains and prevent future dental work.

Picking One

As is evident, mouthguards come in very different types with very different purposes. If you need further advice and clarification on what necessitates a mouthguard, reach out to Hale Family Dentistry to discuss your situation.