Family Dentistry Downey, CA | Monica Puentes DDS

Mouth guards are very important because they keep your teeth and jaws from getting hurt while you play sports or sleep. Even though dentist-made mouthguards are the best, they can be expensive. There are many over-the-counter (OTC) choices, which is good news. Here are some things to think about when buying an over-the-counter mouthguard: Level of safety: Figure out how much safety you'll need based on what you'll be doing. Mouth guards need to be thicker and better at absorbing shock for high-impact sports like football and martial arts. Mouth guards for smaller activities may need to be less bulky. Comfort and Fit: Find a mouthguard that fits well and is comfy. Many over-the-counter choices are "boil and bite," which means you can shape them to fit your teeth. Make sure the mouth guard doesn't make it hard to breathe or talk and that it fits well in your mouth. Material: Mouth guards are usually made of thermoplastics like rubber or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA...

Nothing ordinary. Our favorite items can be found at Rite Aid or even at a high-end apothecary. That's why we've put together a list of what our dream drugstore would sell. Teeth grinding , also called bruxism, is caused by tight jaw muscles and can happen at any time of day or night. But sleep bruxism is much harder to treat because most of us don't even know we're doing it. People often don't know they have the condition until they go to the doctor with headaches, jaw or face pain, worn-down teeth, or if their bed partner hears them grinding their teeth. Dr. Rashmi Ambewadikar of Astoria Smiles Pediatric Dentistry says that ignoring it won't make it go away. Instead, it can lead to major oral problems like loss of enamel, sensitive teeth, and a tendency to get cavities. People used to think that teeth grinding was caused by a misaligned jaw or teeth, but Dr. Brent Larson, head of the orthodontics department at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, s...