It’s a must to protect your teeth when engaging in activities that are risky to your oral health. There are dental devices out there that are specifically designed to protect your teeth from risky activities like participating in sports. At the same time, some people put their teeth in danger when they sleep due to grinding. However, in both instances, two dental devices help protect your teeth—a night guard and a mouth guard. These two have different distinctions and you must learn what they are to choose which one suits your needs. In this blog post, we have put up a guide to set the differences between a night mouthguard and a mouthguard.
The Main Distinction
The main distinction between the two is their purpose. Starting with the night guard, it’s usually used to protect your teeth from harmful grinding when sleeping. This condition is also known as bruxism which may lead to many oral health problems like jaw pain and tooth fractures. With this, a night guard is like a cushion that acts as the teeth’s protective barrier. When worn during sleep, this prevents your upper and lower teeth from bruxism. On the other hand, a mouth guard is used when you’re participating in sports. Football, martial arts, and rugby are some of the examples that may put your teeth at risk. From devastating blows to collisions, your teeth may get fractured when participating in the said sports. This is where a mouthguard comes in. They are also designed to absorb impacts like a cushion to prevent further harm to your teeth and oral health in general.
What They’re Made Of
Another distinction between a night guard and a mouth guard would be the materials that they’re made of. Usually, a dentist will mold your teeth and make night guards from acrylic or laminate. For mouth guards, they are made from flexible and resilient soft materials like silicone or thermoplastic. Although they can be molded by a dentist for customization, you can also get stock mouthguards in various sizes that are ready to wear.
Different Times, Different Situations
Just as the name suggests, a night guard is worn when sleeping. This is because bruxism occurs when your grind or clench your teeth when you sleep, causing several excruciating symptoms. When wearing your night guard, you’re preventing jaw pains, tooth sensitivity, and even headaches that are caused by bruxism. For mouth guards, they protect your teeth in risky activities. Especially when it comes to sports, you may experience great impact and extreme dental injuries.
You must know the differences between a night guard and a mouth guard when you want to protect your teeth. Especially because they’re needed in different situations, understanding their purpose and the times they’re used can help you save your oral health. Always consult with a dentist if you are still unsure of what your needs are. Remember that regardless if you’re sleeping or engaging in sports, your teeth may be at great risk and you need to protect them at all costs.
If you are a dental professional, we are committed to helping you help your patients with top-notch quality dental products here at Next Dental Lab. Contact us for more information now.
