Now that the weather
has started to warm up and Mother Nature has decided to cooperate, it may be
time to schedule an appointment with your dentist for a custom-made sports
mouth protector.
These days it is more
important than ever to protect you and your family, which means more than elbow
and kneepads.
Mouthguards, sports guards,
and mouth protectors are all different names that essentially mean the same
thing, and according to the American Dental Association is something that
everyone should wear, even if you are not participating in a group sport such
as soccer or football. Sports guards are a very important part of the uniform
whether you or someone you know is involved in gymnastics, mountain biking or
skateboarding. Tennis players, racquetball players, surfers, and roller bladders should
all wear some type of mouthguard to protect themselves from blows to the head and
face.
Mouth protectors are
worn to protect the upper teeth, but can be custom made to fit the lower teeth
as well, especially if you are someone you know wears braces or has a dental
bridge.
There are three types
of mouth protectors available. Stock mouthguards, boil and bite mouthguards
and custom-made mouthguards. Whichever you choose, it should be comfortable,
tear-resistant and resilient.
Stock mouthguards
are the least expensive and are ready to wear. However, stock sports mouthguards can make it hard to breathe and talk, and often don’t fit as well as
they should.
Boil and Bite mouth
protectors are a step up from stock mouthguards and come pre-formed, but
the shape can be altered by boiling before placing them into your mouth for a
more customized fit. Follow the directions carefully to avoid a mouthguard
that doesn’t fit as it should.
Custom made mouthguards are designed for you by your dentist and will give you the best
protection and fit. After your dentist makes an impression or mold of your
teeth, the custom-made mouthguard will be made to fit over the impression. Most
amateur and professional athletes prefer custom-made sports mouthguards even
though they are more costly.
Your dentist
recommends that you replace your mouthguard every season because it can become
less effective and wear down. It is extremely important to replace a child or
adolescents mouth protector because their teeth and mouths will continue to
develop over the years.
