Why You Need a Mouthguard for Sports

You often see people wearing mouthguards in contact type sporting, as it is often common to receive hefty dental injuries. No matter if you are a child or an adult, you can fall victim to a dental injury during a contact sport at any moment. So, it is important to put the right equipment in place to protect your pearly whites against any oncoming impacts. This can be done with a custom fitted sports mouthguard. Many of our patients who are active in sports rely on a mouthguard to protect their teeth.

What is a Mouthguard?

A mouthguard, often made of soft plastic, is an oral appliance which is used to protect teeth and gums from sustaining injury whilst playing sports. They are often purchasable at sporting outlets and pharmacies or can be custom fitted by a dental professional.

There are various types of mouthguards that you can use for your oral protection, including:

• Readymade ‘stock’ mouthguards: Usually available over the counter or displayed in store, these mouthguards are already made and moulded to various standard sizes. They tend to be more uncomfortable for the wearer as they aren’t moulded specifically for the mouth, and they also tend to provide the lowest level of protection for the teeth.
• Boil and mould mouthguards: These types of mouthguards are immersed in boiled water and, once pliable, can be placed in the mouth to be moulded to the wearers bite. This means that the end result will be a mouthguard moulded to the creases and shape of your teeth.
• Custom-made mouthguards: This mouthguard is specifically designed and fitted to you by a dentist. This means that the dentist can make a professional impression of your teeth and ensure the mouthguard fits to your exact tooth shape and mouth measurements. These mouthguards provide the most comfort for the wearer and ensures teeth remain firmly in place to maintain optimal protection.

The Benefits of Wearing a Mouthguard

The main benefit of wearing a mouthguard is that it provides protection from potential blows or force that may be otherwise detrimental to the teeth or any dental work. Forceful impacts to the mouth in contact sports can easily cause the teeth to fracture, dislodge, or in some cases break.

A high-grade mouthguard can dissipate the total impact that the teeth experience, and greatly help any impact felt by the wearer, and reduce the chances of the wearer experiencing grave dental harm. At Dental on Clarendon, we help to ensure that your teeth are as strong as they can be.

Mouthguards are just one of the many ways we keep our teeth strong and healthy. This article here is also full of useful tips.