Should I wear a mouthguard at night?

Mouthguards or biteguards are a very useful tool in preventing excessive teeth wear due to bruxism or clenching at night.  Simply put, when you grind, the bit of plastic between your teeth prevents your teeth from touching.  It also acts as a cushion sometimes providing relief to an aching TMJ joint.  Mouthgaurds are available both over the counter at drugstores and can be made in a dental lab by a dentist.  The over the counter kind are fine for most people but if you require a better fitting or thinner material then the dentist can get you a better appliance.

Some mouthguards are made to prevent snoring or sleep apnea.  They function by repositioning the lower jaw forward to lift the tissue at the back of the throat.  This type should be fabricated by a dentist because it can cause problems with the bite if made incorrectly.

How do I prevent cavities?

Regular brushing and flossing lowers the chance of developing "cavities." The most decay-prone areas of teeth are the grooves and depressions on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, and in between the teeth where a brush can't reach.  When decay happens,  it requires treatment.  Left alone decay will reach further and further into the tooth and will eventually cause either the tooth to fracture or cause abscess. Prevention is the best way to approach the problem of dental decay.

Fluoride, in proper dosage, has been shown to significantly reduce dental decay. When fluoridated water is less than the ideal amount or not available, fluoride supplements are recommended. (A call to your local water district is all that is necessary to determine whether your water has fluoride or not.)To prevent decay, a plastic-like coating called a sealant should be painted on the chewing surfaces of all the back teeth. Studies have shown that sealants can reduce tooth decay by as much as 90% to 100%.When supplements are needed, the administration of fluoride supplements should begin shortly after birth and continue through the time of eruption of the second permanent molars (approx. 12 years of age).

The American Dental Association recommends sealants be placed as soon as the first adult back teeth come in at age 6 or 7. Sealants should continue to be used as each adult back tooth comes into the mouth. All back teeth that need to be sealed are present by age 13. Sealant application is simple, fast, and painless.