{"id":14,"date":"2019-07-16T18:57:37","date_gmt":"2019-07-16T18:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sdentalnj.com\/blog\/?p=14"},"modified":"2019-07-16T18:57:38","modified_gmt":"2019-07-16T18:57:38","slug":"dentist-avoid-dental-emergency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sdentalnj.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/16\/dentist-avoid-dental-emergency\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Dentist Says This Is How to Avoid a Dental Emergency"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Brushing, flossing, and regular checkups with your dentist\nare great ways to keep your smile in check. But avoiding dental emergencies<\/a>\nis another way to preserve your smile. Sports mouthguards are an excellent way\nto prevent injuries to your teeth and avoid emergencies. But which kind should\nyou buy? Keep reading to learn the differences between mouthguards you buy over\nthe counter and mouthguards custom-made by your dentist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Are Over-the-Counter Mouthguards?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Over-the-counter mouthguards can protect teeth from being\ninjured during sports or other physical activity. They are made of plastic and\ncan be bought at most drugstores. Some are designed to be \u201cone size fits all,\u201d\nmeaning they often don\u2019t fit anyone just right. In order to work effectively, a\nmouthguard must be fitted to your specific bite. Usually, they are shaped with\na \u201cboil and bite\u201d method. This means that the mouthguard must be placed in\nboiling water for a certain amount of time in order for the plastic to soften.\nThen you place it in your mouth, where it molds to the shape of your teeth.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Well Do They Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The efficacy of over-the-counter mouthguards depends on a\nfew factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n