Mouthguards in Jonesboro, AR

Preventive care measures like using a mouthguard can help keep your natural smile around for as long as possible. If you experience TMJ symptoms like jaw pain or play a high contact sport, you may benefit from a mouthguard. At Troy Bartels, DDS, we offer custom mouthguards for our patients. Get in touch with our office to see how we can help protect your smile!

Can a mouthguard help prevent teeth grinding?

Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, can contribute to headaches, jaw, and tooth pain. If you’re guilty of teeth grinding at night or suffer from TMJ, a mouthguard can help reduce wear and tear to your teeth. Mouthguards protect teeth by creating a physical barrier between the upper and lower arch. This barrier forces space to reduce clenching, grinding and help your jaw stay in a secure position.

Types of mouthguards/nightguards

There are a number of different types of guards available that are indicated for different needs. Other than mouthguards for sports, we also have mouthguard for conditions discussed above such as bruxism. If you do need a guard, Dr. Bartels will discuss the options with you, as there are hard and soft guard materials

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What injuries can mouthguards protect against?

Besides teeth grinding, mouthguards are great for preventing severe dental trauma or injury. If you participate in a high contact sport, like football or boxing, a mouthguard for sports can help cushion the blow to the face, minimizing the risk of face, jaw, or dental injury. Some specific injuries include:

  • Chipped Teeth
  • Knocked-Out Tooth
  • Soft Tissue Injury

How do I clearn my mouthguard?

You should clean your mouthguard daily with your toothbrush and warm water. You can use a tiny bit of soap but make sure that you rinse it all off before you put the guard back into your mouth.

Why are there bite marks on my night guard?

Bite marks on your nightguard usually mean that your guard is doing its job! One of the key reasons people wear niteguards is to prevent the teeth from scraping against each other during the night, so the fact that your guard has bite marks in it means that your guard is absorbing the force of grinding or clenching — as opposed to your teeth. However, if you have any type of jaw pain or discomfort with your guard, make sure you come in for an appointment so we can evaluate it. Sometimes a nightguard gets too worn to be effective and we need to fabricate a new one. The good news, however, is that it’s better that the guard is wearing down instead of your teeth!

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Call us at 870-802-1500 or fill out the form below.

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How long does a mouthguard last?

The lifespan of mouthguards will vary on how often they’re used to protect teeth. On average, mouthguards can last six months. However, mouthguards will become less effective when thickness and form are lost. If you have a mouthguard for sports, teeth grinding, or TMJ, we recommend bringing it with you to each dental appointment to evaluate its condition. If your mouthguard is in poor condition, Dr. Bartels and our team are happy to create you a custom mouthguard to protect your teeth effectively!

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