When it comes to mouthguards, you have a couple of options: the first is to buy one at the store, which tends to be relatively inexpensive and is easy enough to pick up. Your second option is to get a custom-fit mouthguard at your dentist’s office.

Why would you opt for a custom-fit mouthguard from your dentist? Here’s why you should absolutely invest in a custom mouthguard for your child!

Better Protect Your Child

Custom mouthguards offer an advanced level of protection that store-bought ones just can’t provide. A custom-fit mouthguard is made to specifically fit your child’s mouth and to protect each tooth. Generic, store-bought mouthguards are usually one-size-fits-all, and no two people have the same mouth!

Store-bought mouthguards are also less durable and tend to wear out quickly, meaning you’ll need to replace them more often in order to keep protecting your child’s smile. With custom-fit mouthguards from your dentist, the strength and durability of these quality mouthguards will protect your child’s smile for seasons to come.

Custom-Fit Means More Comfort

Since custom-fit mouthguards are made just for your child, they fit perfectly and tend to be much more comfortable than generic mouthguards. Often bulky and too big, store-bought mouthguards can be uncomfortable at best and painful at worst, making it less likely that your child will actually wear it during sports.

Even worse, these mouthguards have the potential to hinder your child’s breathing. When you invest in a custom-fit mouthguard, your child can breathe properly, eliminate distraction during sports, and fully protect your child’s smile.

Prevent Injury to the Head and Mouth

Custom-fit mouthguards provide the best protection for your child. They are made to properly absorb the impact of a blow to keep your child’s teeth safe. In fact, some research shows that mouthguards may actually be able to prevent concussions by absorbing the blow and preventing your child’s jaw or skull from being injured.

When you consider that a custom-fit mouthguard is your best chance to protect your child’s teeth from injury, it makes sense to make the investment. Often, these mouthguards are more affordable than people think and when you consider dental work or an emergency room visit if your child’s mouth is injured, they seem very affordable indeed!

Are you considering a custom mouthguard for your child’s sport season? You can schedule an appointment with your dentist to discuss your options. When it comes to your child’s smile, you can provide them with the utmost level of protection and keep them comfortable and safe during sports, making the season fun for everyone!

The post Should My Child Wear a Custom-Fit Mouthguard During Sports? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Whether you’re traveling abroad this summer or are just going on a nearby weekend getaway with friends, here’s what to do if you’re experiencing a dental emergency while you’re away.

Toothache

If you have a toothache while flying, don’t panic. For people who may have a cavity, a damaged filling, or a crack in their teeth, the changes in air pressure can make the affected area expand and cause pain or discomfort. Your toothache should go away after landing, but be sure to follow up with your dentist when you return home.

If you have a toothache and haven’t flown anywhere—or if the toothache from your flight
hasn’t gone away—you can try to alleviate your pain by rinsing gently with warm salt water, carefully flossing your teeth, or applying a cold compress to the affected area. You should never ignore a toothache, especially if the pain is severe, so your dentist as soon as you’re able, and find one while you’re traveling if you can!

Cracked or Chipped Tooth

If you crack or chip a tooth during your vacation, it’s important to find a dentist who can assess the problem, especially if you’re experiencing pain as a result of your injury. Your hotel concierge may be able to recommend a local dentist, or if you need to, go to the emergency room to address the problem.

Knocked-Out Tooth

A knocked-out tooth will require immediate attention, so find a dentist if you can, but visit the emergency room if you cannot. If the tooth is in one piece, you can hold it gently by the crown and attempt to keep it in its socket until you can receive medical attention. If your tooth is in fragments, gather up all the pieces if you can and store them in saliva or milk until you can see a dentist.

Restorative Dentistry Issue

Whether it’s a filling that’s fallen out or broken dentures, it’s common for restorative dentistry issues to crop up, especially if you haven’t seen the dentist in a while and your restoration is in need of repair. You may be able to get help from a local dentist for a temporary fix until you can see your regular dentist at home. If you’re traveling abroad, you may be able to ask your insurance company for dentists that you can see.

Be Prepared!

Your best bet for a dental emergency is to be prepared. Go in for a checkup before your trip. Consider getting dental insurance if you’re going abroad. Travel with everything you know you need to maintain your smile. You can also be extra prepared and keep a list of dentists in your bag, whether you’re going somewhere locally or outside the country. This can save you precious time if you’re experiencing a severe toothache or a knocked-out tooth!

Dealing with an emergency is never at the top of anyone’s fun list, but being prepared while you’re traveling can make all the difference. Know where to go if you need help. Keep items you know you’ll need with you. Keep these tips in mind if a dental emergency happens while you’re on your vacation!

The post Dental Emergency While Traveling? Here’s What to Do appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

However, even wearing a mouthguard during non-contact sports such as soccer, basketball, and
baseball can help prevent injuries. Any child who plays a sport—regardless of age—should wear
a mouthguard. But why?

Injuries Can Happen During Any Sport

Accidents can happen anywhere, especially when your child is involved in a sport. Sports
injuries to the face, jaw, or mouth can cause major damage, from tooth loss to cut gums.

Even if your child just loses a baby tooth, losing baby teeth prematurely will impact your child’s
permanent teeth. Baby teeth are there to help guide adult teeth into position, so without this
important marker, your child may need to have orthodontia later on.

A mouthguard helps absorb the impact of the blow to the face or jaw, reducing the chances
that your child’s teeth will suffer the consequences. In fact, recent research suggests that
mouthguards may help prevent concussions during sports!

Mouthguards for Children of All Ages

Children of any age can be sized for a mouthguard. Many children start playing sports young, so
dentists can make custom mouthguards for children of all ages and sizes.

Although store-bought mouthguards are cheaper, they tend to be uncomfortable and don’t
provide full protection. A custom mouthguard from your dentist is your best choice and will
provide complete protection for your little one’s smile.

Mouthguards aren’t just for kids with braces—any child can benefit from wearing one when
playing sports!

How to Get Your Child to Wear Their Mouthguard

Not all children are keen on wearing mouthguards. Some may be too young to fully understand
why the mouthguard is necessary and attempt to go without it. Fortunately, there are several
ways to get your child to wear their mouthguard.

 Get their favorite color. Your child will love their custom colored mouthguard!

 Make it fun. You can get sparkly mouthguards or mouthguards with a unique logo or
design to customize it for your child.

 Flavored mouthguards. Some dentists offer the option for mouthguards to come with a
flavor, which may encourage your child to wear it during their sport.

 Incentives. If all else fails, offer your child an incentive, such as choosing a prize after
every game they wear their mouthguard.

You can and should explain to your child why the mouthguard is important for their smile, even
if they’re a bit young to fully understand. You can explain that a mouthguard is just as
important as their uniform, knee pads, shin guards, and other protective gear. You can also tell
them that a mouthguard is just another way of taking care of your smile, just like brushing and
flossing.

If your child is playing a sport, especially a contact sport, a mouthguard should be an essential
part of their uniform during games and practices. Protecting your child’s teeth—even if they’re
baby teeth—is going to help their smile remain healthy and secure for life!

The post At What Age Should My Child Wear a Mouthguard During Sports? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Trauma to the Tooth

If one of your teeth has experienced any type of trauma, this could be the cause for its
discoloration. This trauma could include getting into an accident whether as a child or as an
adult, such as a car accident or falling and injuring your mouth.

When your tooth is injured, bleeding can happen inside the tooth. Bleeding will often cause a
bluish-gray tinge to the tooth, almost like a bruise. However, bleeding can also cause a tooth to
become brown or yellow. As a result of the trauma, your tooth’s root may die. When the root
dies, this can lead to a brown or gray appearance that sticks out from the other teeth.

Staining from Food or Medicine

We know that certain foods and drinks have the ability to stain our teeth. Whether it’s from
harmful behaviors such as tobacco use or from drinking coffee and wine, some teeth may be
more resistant to staining than others. Enamel is porous and while it can help protect teeth
from staining when it’s strong, it could be the cause for staining when it’s weak.

Medicine could also be the cause of your tooth’s different color. Some people who were given
antibiotics as a child—or people who have a mother that took them while pregnant—may have
a tooth or two that appears gray. This usually happens before the permanent teeth come in and
is something your dentist can help evaluate.

Tooth Decay

It’s not easy to spot cavities if you don’t go to the dentist regularly. Many people don’t realize
they have a cavity until it’s too late. Tooth decay can progress to the point that it eats through
the softer tissues of your teeth and eventually sabotages your tooth’s root. When this happens,
the root dies and an infection can ensue.

People who have a dead tooth root commonly experience discoloration in that tooth. This
discoloration may go away with root canal therapy, in which all the dead tissue is removed and
the tooth is properly sealed up. Your dentist can evaluate if your tooth decay has caused your
discoloration and if a root canal can help fix it!

When it comes to discolored teeth, considering the causes will help you find your best form of
treatment. Although a professional whitening can fix some of these problems, most often the
root cause will need to be fixed. This may mean receiving root canal therapy or fixing the
problem so your tooth color can return to normal. Addressing the cause of your tooth
discoloration can help return your smile to normal!

The post Why Has One of My Teeth Become Discolored? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening can help your tooth return to its original color, but you shouldn’t start whitening your teeth without first getting the tooth evaluated by your dentist. This is because the inner pulp of your tooth may actually be dead and need to be removed. What this means is that you’ll need a root canal. During your visit, your dentist can perform some tests on your tooth to determine if the root is still alive. If it is, your dentist might suggest waiting another few weeks or months to see if the color comes back on its own. If your tooth continues to be dark or become darker, you can then talk with your dentist about getting a professional whitening done to help restore your appearance.

Root Canal

If the root of your tooth is dead, removing the affected pulp that’s been stained may help reverse the darkening of your tooth. This is because removing the stained area inside your tooth will help the tooth naturally become whiter. However, you’ll only need a root canal if your tooth is actually dead. Any inner pulp that’s dead or infected should be removed by an experienced dentist or in some cases, an endodontist (a dentist who specializes in root canals). Your tooth may die after the injury and require a root canal before any whitening can be done. Fortunately, whitening may not even be necessary once the affected tooth is successfully treated with a root canal!

Crown or Veneer

If your tooth is still alive but it doesn’t return to its normal color in six months, a crown or veneer may be needed to help restore your tooth’s color. Porcelain or ceramic crowns and veneers can help cover your tooth and normalize its appearance. After you receive either a crown or veneer, your tooth will be indistinguishable from the other teeth in your mouth. You may not need any cosmetic dentistry done if a root canal or whitening can be done in its place.

Talk with your dentist about what your treatment options are for an injured tooth that’s suddenly turned gray. A simple whitening could help your darkened tooth, or maybe a root canal is needed to relieve any infection and restore your tooth’s color. Regardless of how your tooth got injured, trust a professional dentist to help you get your smile back!

The post Treatment Options for Tooth Discoloration after Trauma appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Here’s what happens when you have to wear something uncomfortable: you don’t end up wearing it. Like that pair of 5-inch heels or a too-tight shirt in the closet, it just doesn’t get used. When you need a mouthguard for essential protection such as from contact sports or teeth grinding (also called bruxism), not wearing your mouthguard could set you up for serious damage to your teeth. Getting a mouthguard that’s made specifically for your mouth and actually fits can reduce discomfort and ensure that you’ll use your protective gear!

Enhance Protection

When you get a custom mouthguard, impressions are taken at your dentist’s office in order to ensure a perfect fit. This custom fit means that your mouthguard will fit your mouth impeccably and will be so comfortable you may not even know you’re wearing it. This increases the chances you’ll actually wear your mouthguard, therefore resulting in a better-protected smile!

However, ensuring a custom-fit also means that each and every tooth is protected. When you buy generic mouthguards at the store, it’s hard to ensure protection because these mouthguards were not made with your unique mouth in mind. With custom mouthguards, every tooth in your mouth is fully protected to resist damage from sports or bruxism.

Breathe Better

Have you ever tried to run with a huge mouthguard in? It feels impossible to get enough oxygen into your lungs when you’re wearing an improperly-fitting mouthguard. Having you or your child wear these mouthguards during sports or while sleeping just isn’t safe—you need to breathe well to ensure proper oxygen intake to nourish your body.

With custom-fitted mouthguards, the discomfort is gone, the protection is there, and you can breathe better. This is because this mouthguard was made specifically for you. It’s not too big or too small, and your airway is left unobstructed by a custom-fitting mouthguard. Breathe easier during sports and sleep with these custom devices!

Getting a custom mouthguard is absolutely worth the effort and the cost at your dentist’s office. This is because it better protects your teeth, is more comfortable, and allows you to breathe properly regardless of what you need to do with your mouthguard in. Ask your dentist about getting custom mouthguards to fully protect your smile!

The post Custom Mouthguards: Are They Really Worth It? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Offer More Oral Protection

That store-bought mouthguard is not made to fit your smile. It was made to fit a variety of smiles, therefore the chances that it will accurately fit yours are slim. Even if you buy what you believe to be the correct size for your mouth, those standard mouthguards still don’t fully protect each and every tooth in your mouth.

Custom mouthguards allow every tooth in your mouth to have optimal protection. They take a minimal amount of time to take molds at your dentist office and they last longer and are made to protect your smile whether for bruxism or contact sports. Why gamble with your smile? When the cheaper mouthguard fails to work, you’ll end up paying to replace your knocked-out or damaged teeth!

Keep Your Child Safe

Standard mouthguards are often either too big or too small for your child’s mouth—they won’t fit just right unless they’re custom-made. If a mouthguard is uncomfortable, your child may choose to not wear the mouthguard or take it out during their sport. Who can blame them? Having an oversized piece of plastic shoved into your mouth doesn’t make for happy sport playing.

Your child may also find it difficult to speak while wearing his or her mouthguard, therefore making it unlikely that they’ll notify their coach if there’s a problem or be able to communicate with their team. If your child wears braces, they especially need optimal protection to keep the braces from cutting their gums in the event that they get hit or fall during contact sports. Ill-fitting mouthguards don’t offer this type of protection!

Increase Performance

You may even have trouble breathing if you buy a standard mouthguard that wasn’t made to fit your mouth. This is alarming for an adult, but even more so for a child. If you or your child use mouthguards for playing sports or bruxism, trying to breathe while having this uncomfortable, bulky guard in your mouth can be difficult.

Not only is this unsafe, but it will also hinder your performance. Your lungs need to take in an adequate amount of oxygen to supply your muscles with while exercising. While sleeping, your body still needs air to breathe and supply your brain with oxygen, as the brain is more active during sleep. Increase performance with custom mouthguards and stay safe while sleeping!

Leave your standard mouthguard on the field—custom mouthguards are a better fit. They provide optimal protection, keep your child safe during sports, and boost your performance by allowing your body to properly breathe. Talk with your dentist about getting a custom mouthguard made today!

The post Why Custom Mouthguards Are a Better Fit appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.