The Best Mouth Guards to Use with Your Clear Aligners

The rise in orthodontics has introduced a convenient way to align your smile with the help of clear aligners. These are perfect alternatives for bulky metal braces treatment. As clear aligners are an ideal solution for transforming your smile, mouth guards are considered the perfect dental tool to be used for protection against sports-related injuries.

But are you looking for a perfect mouth guard to wear alongside clear aligners? Considering your dental treatment, making a wise decision for your smile is important. This blog will help you understand mouth guards, and their types and help you decide on the suitable mouth guard to meet your dental requirements.

Understanding Mouth Guards

Mouth guards are dental appliances placed in your mouth to cover your teeth and jaws. They are made of thermoplastic material that absorbs any force or pressure placed on your mouth. Mouth guards offer protection against chipped teeth, jaw injuries, and soft tissue damage caused by any external force or impact.

Types of Mouth Guards

The following are the types of mouth guards offering different levels of protection:

• Stock Mouth Guards

  Stock mouth guards are ready-made custom devices readily available at any sports goods shop. If you are looking for the least expensive option, these are the most suitable for you. Since they are pre-made, the size may seem unfit leading to compromises in protection.

• Boil and Bite Mouth Guards

  While being more expensive than the stock mouth guards, boil-and-bite mouth guards offer a slightly better fit due to them being boiled and molded for your teeth.

  To use a boil-and-bite mouth guard, boil it to soften it up. Once done, simply take the mouth guard out and put it in your mouth to input your dental impressions on it. After this, let it cool down so that it can become ready to wear. While the mouth guard is custom-tailored to some extent, it is still prone to errors and can compromise your dental safety.

• Customized Mouth Guards

  This type of mouth guard is customized according to the size of your mouth with the help of dental impressions. Custom-fit mouth guards are manufactured under the supervision of a professional, offering perfect fit and protection. As compared to the other types available in the market, while custom mouth guards are the most expensive ones by a small margin, they offer the best protection.

What are Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners are a series of dental trays that are placed inside your mouth. These are made of plastics and therefore offer an invisible appearance. Unlike traditional metal braces, clear aligners put gentle pressure on your teeth and shift them to the desired position.

How Do They Work?

Each set of clear aligners is worn for 20 to 22 hours per day for almost a week. Each plastic tray applies pressure on your teeth and moves them to the correct position. The number of clear aligners recommended to you depends on your dental condition.

Can You Wear a Mouth Guard with Clear Aligners?

Are you an athlete going through clear aligner treatment? You might be wondering if you can wear clear aligners and mouth guards at the same time. The answer is no. Both clear aligners and mouth guards are designed to offer a perfect fit for your smile, which makes it impossible to wear them simultaneously.

Tips For Wearing Aligners and Mouth Guards

The following are some important tips you need to know:

• Consult Your Dentist

  When it comes to your dental health, try not to decide without consulting your dentist. It is important to opt for a dental product suitable for your oral health.

• Wear Time Compliance

  As both products cannot be worn at the same time, you need to remove your clear aligners before wearing a mouth guard. But make sure you do not miss the wearing time. When you remove your mouth guard after your game, put your aligners back in immediately.

How To Make a Perfect Decision?

Considering the following factors, you can make a wise decision for your smile:

• Durability

  A suitable dental product should be made of high-quality, durable material to withstand consistent use and wear. High-impact sports activities require a durable product to keep your smile completely protected.

• Comfort and Fit

  A poorly fitted mouth guard can distract you from your game, causing irritation and discomfort. To ensure proper fit, enhanced protection, and comfort of your smile, get a customized mouth guard specifically tailored for you.

• Cost

  You might not want to opt for a too-expensive option for your smile. For this sake, select a budget and look for a suitable brand. At Smilepath, you can get a budget-friendly, custom-fit mouth guard made with BPA-free material that will last long.

• Easier To Clean

  Since hygiene plays an important role, opt for a product that is easier to clean and maintain.

How To Keep Your Mouth Guards Maintained

The following tips will help you keep your mouth guards maintained and improve their longevity:

• Regular Cleaning

  Regular cleaning of your mouth guard is a crucial step. You can take a soft-bristled toothbrush and gently brush your mouth guard to remove debris or plaques present on the surface of your dental product. Furthermore, you can also soak them in cleaning solutions to keep them hygienic.

• Rinsing

  Try to rinse your mouth guard before putting it in your mouth to remove any dust particles. Repeat the step after taking them off to remove saliva or plaques present on it. Avoid using hot water, as it can damage the material of your mouth guard.

• Inspect Damage

  Wear and tear on your mouth guard loses its effectiveness. Keep your mouth guard in check and see if it is damaged or not. If so, replace your dental product promptly.

• Proper Storage

  When you remove your mouth guard, do not place it anywhere; instead, keep it saved inside a plastic case. It will prevent germs from coming in contact with your mouth guard, avoiding bacterial buildup.

Order a Custom-Fit Mouth Guard From Smilepath

Considering your dental requirements, Smilepath offers a convenient way to get your custom-fit mouth guards for your smile protection. The following is how you can make an order:

To sum it up, when you are going through a teeth straightening procedure, you might not want to harm your smile. Since an athlete has a higher chance of getting the smile damaged, wearing a mouth guard plays an important role. However, it is not possible to wear both of them in your smile. All you can do is opt for the more comfortable option to protect your smile. Do not forget to miss the aligner-wearing time; wear them right after you remove your mouth guard.

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