Mouthguards & Night Guards | The Woodlands & Montgomery

Protect Your Smile

If you or your child grinds their teeth at night or plays sports while wearing braces, it’s important to protect their teeth with a mouth guard from Manning Orthodontics.

Sports-related impacts can break your braces, damage your teeth, and cause injury to your gums or lips, which is why our The Woodlands and Montgomery offices offer custom mouth guards and night guards for braces.

What Is a Mouthguard?

A mouthguard shields your or your child’s teeth from impact-related damage while also shielding the softer areas of the mouth from accidentally getting bitten or scratched—or even worn down during nighttime bruxism, or teeth grinding.

The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends wearing a sports mouth guard even if your sport doesn’t typically involve contact, such as with soccer and baseball.

There are two main categories of mouthguards:

  • Sports guards: These protect the teeth during sports, physical education, or other physical activity. Typically made of a thicker, more durable plastic, you can wear them with braces or after treatment.
  • Night guards: If you suffer from bruxism and grind your teeth while you sleep, Dr. Manning may recommend a night guard to protect your teeth. The material is softer so they’re more comfortable for extended wear.

Types of Mouthguards

Let’s take a closer look at the three types of mouthguards.

 

Pre-Made Mouth Guard

You can purchase these mouthguards at most sporting goods stores and even grocery stores.

While wearing one of these is better than nothing, these mouthguards typically don’t fit very well and can even cause mouth damage on their own due to slipping around.

Boil-and-Bite Mouthguard

This type of mouthguard is slightly more customizable than pre-made mouthguards, although they’re not as durable or as comfortable as having a custom mouthguard made by your orthodontist.

 

Custom-Made Mouthguard

This is your best option if you want a sports mouthguard that will last a long time. Dr. Manning can craft a mouth guard that fits perfectly in your mouth, reducing the risk that it will move around or fall out. The secure fit provides more protection for your teeth and braces.

Mouthguard FAQs

When you get braces, Dr. Manning may recommend a mouth guard to protect your teeth during normal day-to-day activities.

If you love playing sports, sports guards are a great way to protect your orthodontic devices and your teeth.