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The Importance of Wearing a Mouth Guard

June 26, 2015

Imagine what it would be like if you suddenly lost one or two of your front teeth. Smiling, talking, eating—everything would suddenly be affected. This situation can so easily happen to anybody when playing sports. The use of a mouth guard can minimise, and sometimes prevent, dental trauma which may occur during sports.

What is a mouth guard?

Mouth guards, also called gum shields, help cushion a blow to the face. They typically cover the upper teeth and are a great way to protect the soft tissues of your tongue, lips and cheek lining.
armourbite-mouthguard-custom

When should a mouth guard be worn?

When it comes to protecting your mouth, a mouth guard is an essential piece of athletic gear that should be part of your standard equipment from an early age. In fact, studies show that athletes are 60 times more likely to suffer harm to the teeth if they’re not wearing a mouth guard. While collision and contact sports, such as boxing, are higher-risk sports for the mouth, you can experience a dental injury in non-contact activities too, such as gymnastics and horse riding.

There are three types of mouth guards: 

  1. Custom-fitted. These are made by your dentist for you personally. They are more expensive than the other versions, but because they are customized, usually offer the best fit.
  2. Stock. These are inexpensive and come pre-formed, ready to wear. Unfortunately, they often don’t fit very well. They can be bulky and can make breathing and talking difficult.
  3. Boil and bite. These mouth protectors can be bought at many sporting goods stores and pharmacy’s and may offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. They are first softened in water (boiled), then inserted and allowed to adapt to the shape of your mouth.

The best mouth guard is one that has been custom made for your mouth by your dentist. However, if you can’t afford a custom-fitted mouth guard, you should still wear a stock mouth guard or a boil-and-bite mouth guard. A boil-and-bite mouth guard is very suitable for young kids who have not developed their adult teeth yet. If you wear braces or another fixed dental appliance on your lower jaw, your dentist may suggest a mouth protector for these teeth as well.

A properly fitted mouth guard may be especially important for people who wear braces or have fixed bridge work. A blow to the face could damage the brackets or other fixed orthodontic appliances. A mouth guard also provides a barrier between the braces and your cheek or lips, limiting the risk of soft tissue injuries.

If you have a retainer or other removable appliance, do not wear it during any contact sports.

Some tips for caring for your mouth guard:

  • rinse before and after each use or brush with a toothbrush and toothpaste
  • occasionally clean the mouth guard in cool, soapy water and rinse thoroughly
  • transport the mouth guard in a sturdy container that has vents
  • never leave the mouth guard in the sun or in hot water
  • check for wear and tear to see if it needs replacing

It is important to remember damaged teeth do not grow back. Protect that perfect smile – wear a mouth guard.

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