Gum Shield & Anti Grinding Devices

Bruxism is the involuntary act of gritting teeth and grinding them at night.

When not treated correctly, this disorder can lead to progressive wear of the teeth, to compromise the gingival tissues. This disease causes a profound deterioration in the quality of sleep, with grave consequences on daytime performance. One of the first symptoms of bruxism is the difficulty to open your mouth when you wake up. Dental hypersensitivity to cold and heat, chronic pain in the jaw joint and cervical pain also are common symptoms of this condition. Bruxism is often detected by the dentist, who observes on the teeth the damage caused by this disorder.

Athletes who practise sports such as Boxing, Kick Boxing, Rugby, Basketball, Motocross, Riding, etc., should use a mouthguard both in training and in competition. The mouthpiece protects teeth, mouth, jaws and joints from the risk of injury to teeth, lips and cheeks, cushioning and distributing the blows in a broader surface.

A mouthguard or gum shield is a device used to protect hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, such as teeth, lips and gums.

The mouthguard is most useful during the practice of contact sports such as rugby, martial arts, boxing, basketball, football and hockey. Its purpose is to cushion any trauma and distribute them in a broader surface, thus dispersing the impact forces, safeguarding both the teeth and the mandibular temporal joint.

The mouthguard can be cleaned in various ways. By using toothpaste (without abrasive particles) or neutral soap and toothbrush, you can immerse it in water and effervescent pads for dentures.

It is good practice to clean the mouthguard after each use, and place it in its container, and then rinse it in water before using it. It is advisable not to use too hot water or heat sources to wash or dry the mouthguard so as not to risk deforming it.

There are various types of mouthguards for sports use: the single-arched mouthguards consist of a single piece, which must be applied to the upper arch, while the double-arched mouthguards cover both the upper and lower arch.

The mouthguards also differ according to the materials. There are mouthguards made of gel, rubber or combinations of different materials and densities. Mouthguards of different materials will be perceived differently in the mouth.

Another distinction has to be made between custom and standard mouthguards. Custom mouthguards are created following the mouth shape and respecting 100% its anatomy. Most of the mouthguards on the market (standard mouthguards ) are characterized by the technology called boil and bite because once heated, can be modelled to customize and then adapt them to any dental arch.

However, we advise you to ask our dentist what is the best choice for you.

Mouthguards can be effective in managing tooth grinding and bruxism. Although they are solutions that do not solve the

causes, they can still control the effects and reduce tooth damage.

The results of teeth grinding and bruxism may include:

• pain, discomfort and reduction of movements of the mandible;
• tooth wear and damage;
• tooth rupture;
• headache;
• otitis.