Mouthguards are thick plastic appliances that cover the teeth and fit over them like a dental tray customized to the mouth, teeth, and gums. Moreover, a sports people wear sports guard over their teeth to prevent injuries. They usually cover the upper teeth to protect them from fractures (or possibly tooth loss) and your lips and tongue from cuts.
Anyone at risk, not just professional athletes, should wear them because they lower the chance of damage to our teeth and mouth. In addition, the American Dental Association advises participants in contact sports or other activities where there is a possible injury to the mouth or teeth to wear a protective mouth guard. This recommendation applies to participants of all ages.
3 Types of Mouth Guards
You have three main options when selecting a mouthguard for contact sports. These include:
Stock Mouthguards
These are the most affordable and widely accessible mouthguards. They come in a variety of sizes and are pre-made. However, finding a great fit can be challenging because they are pre-made. In addition, improperly-fitted mouthguards can damage your teeth and gums and affect your ability to breathe and talk clearly. This can negatively impact your athletic performance. For these reasons, it is only advised to use stock mouthguards occasionally.
Boil-and-bite Mouthguards
Like stock mouthguards, boil-and-bite mouthguards are pre-made. However, compared to stock mouthguards, they offer a better, tighter, and safer fit. Although these mouthguards are only available in one size, you can completely adjust their fit by boiling them and biting down on them.
Custom Mouthguards
While more expensive, these mouthguards are the best choice for players participating in high-impact sports. To make a custom mouthguard, the dentist takes impressions of your teeth and mouth. If you have dental restorations like bridges or braces, the dentist will take impressions around them to guarantee a perfect fit.
Why Are Mouthguards So Crucial?
A mouth guard cushions blows to the face and mouth to protect the teeth and jaws from harm. In addition, to lessen the force of a strike, a mouth guard acts as a barrier. A mouth guard will shield you from all kinds of injuries, including:
- Lost teeth.
- Chipped, cracked, and broken teeth.
- Cuts to the tongue, lips, or cheeks from sudden biting.
- Jaw injuries, such as fractures and dislocations.
- Broken brackets and wires.
5 Advantages of Using a Mouthguard During Sports
When it comes to safeguarding your mouth, a mouthguard is an essential piece of gear. A sports guard can:
Keep Your Teeth Safe
One of the main advantages of using a mouthguard during contact sports is protection against tooth injury. The most common sports-related injuries are broken, chipped, fractured, or knocked-out teeth. Mouthguards prevent damage to the teeth.
Ensure the Safety of Dental Restorations
If you have braces, dental crowns, or bridges, you should take extra precautions when playing contact sports. Your mouth can hurt if these restorations are damaged, necessitating costly replacements or repairs. In addition, a mouthguard will shield your dental work from injury, which will lessen the severity of an accident.
Protect Your Mouth's Soft Tissues
The jaw possesses excellent force, and it is common for people to bite their lips and cheeks accidentally. On the other hand, a mouthguard that covers the sharp surfaces can assist in protecting your tongue, lips, and cheeks.
Prevent a Broken Jaw
Your teeth clang against each other when you receive a hit to the head, as there is no space between them. A mouthguard adds a layer of padding that might protect your jaw. In addition, wearing a mouthguard can save you from weeks or months of soup and jello after jaw surgery.
Save Cash
If you don’t wear a mouthguard, your teeth, and dental restorations are more likely to crack, chip, fracture, or fall out. Deep cuts or bruises can also occur on the tongue, lip, cheeks, and gums. You can save thousands of dollars by taking precautions to protect your mouth, head, and neck and avoid the need for complicated and expensive treatments.
Your teeth will be covered and safeguarded by a properly fitted mouthguard, which will cushion the jaw and leave plenty of space between the top and bottom sets of teeth. With the extra space and cushioning, frontal hits will be absorbed to lessen the chance of teeth being knocked out, and your teeth won’t be jammed together when you hit something. Call or contact us at SkyRise Dental if you live in Thornhill, Ontario and have any concerns about mouthguards or how to select one.
