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In Australia, thousands of active adults, teens, and children receive blows to their face while playing sports, causing dental problems such as cracked, chipped, loose, or missing teeth. Serious dental injuries are all too common in contact and fast-paced sports. We’d never encourage you to give up the game completely because of this, but a professionally-fitted custom mouth guard might be the answer.
Sports mouthguards are dental devices worn over the teeth to protect your oral cavity from blows to the mouth and head. They are considered an essential piece of athletic equipment for anyone participating in sports that involve contact, falls, or flying equipment.
Mouthguards are recommended for sports such as:
- Football
- Basketball
- Rugby
- Australian Rules Football
- Hockey
- Skateboarding
- Gymnastics
- Mountain Biking
What are the different types of mouthguards?
Stock Mouth Protectors: They are ready to wear dental equipment. It will be available at sporting good stored. These will require a bit of adjustments, and they provide minimal protection.
Custom-Fitted Mouth Protectors: These are individually designed and made by a dentist or laboratory technician. The procedure begins by taking an impression of the teeth and then a mouthguard is moulded over the model. It provides great comfort and protection.
Boil and Bite mouth protectors: This will be available at sports store and offer great fit. It is made from thermoplastic material. It will be placed in hot water, then in the mouth to shape around the teeth using tongue and finger pressure.
Just as many other pieces of sporting equipment have evolved over time, mouthguards have come a long way since their early ancestors. The early mouthguard prototypes were found in boxing. To protect their lips from lashing and relieve clenching, boxers would bite down on cotton, rubber, even wood, until the father of an amateur boxer developed ‘Gum Shield’, resembling the modern mouthguard. Since then, in the 1890s, mouthguards have come a long way, with more sophisticated materials, efficient designs, and custom-made shapes.
By far, custom-made mouthguards provide the highest level of comfort and protection for the athlete. Made in a laboratory under your dentist’s specific instructions, these fit and feel better than their store-bought alternatives. They are the more expensive option, but it is a small price to pay for the protection of your teeth!
How to maintain your mouthguard?
- Wash your mouthguard with cold water. Or keep the mouth rinse before and after each use. Or clean it with mild soap and a toothbrush
- Apply soapy water and rinse it thoroughly with cold water after each usage
- Keep the mouthguard in a perforated and firm container to store or transport. This ensures air circulation and prevents damage
- Avoid keeping the mouthguard in high temperatures like hot water, direct sunlight, or hot surfaces to minimize the distorting of its shape
- Check the mouthguard regularly to look for holes or tears or loosen to get another one before it causes discomfort
- Take the mouthguard for a dental visit to have it examined and avoid any dental problems
To find out more, or to request a consultation, please contact us today.