Playing a contact sport increases your risk of needing broken tooth repair or even tooth replacement. If you play a contact sport, you’ll want to let your dentist know as soon as possible so they can make a custom mouth guard.
A mouth guard protects your teeth from impact damage so you can maintain good oral health and avoid a trip to your emergency dentist. Continue reading to learn the 6 facts about sports mouth guards your dentist wants you to know.
- Mouth guards protect your teeth.
Every time you walk onto the football field or step into the boxing ring, you increase your risk for oral injury. A mouth is an oral appliance that fits over your upper teeth. Unlike the generic mouth guards you can get from the sporting goods store, a mouth guard made by your dentist offers a higher level of protection.
Your dentist will be able to create the best mouth guard for your smile and the sport you play. For example, a football mouth guard reduces your risk of needing emergency dental care the next time you’re tackled on the field. Likewise, a basketball mouth can protect your smile if another player shoots out their arm to collect a rebound and hits you in the mouth.
- You can get a mouth guard for braces.
Do you have teeth braces? Even if you are in the middle of orthodontic treatment, you’ll need a mouth guard to protect your teeth while playing contact sports. Your dentist will recommend an upper and lower mouth guard so your braces don’t snag on soft tissue on impact.
After all the time it took to straighten your smile, the last thing you need is to knock out a tooth while playing football.
- You only need a mouth guard for top teeth.
We understand that you don’t want to wear a bulky oral appliance during your next game. Thankfully, a mouth guard from your dentist is custom-fit so you can breathe easier and feel comfortable. Unless you have braces or another fixed orthodontic appliance, you’ll only need a mouth guard for your upper teeth.
- Clean your mouth guard.
Is your mouth guard giving you bad breath? If you don’t clean your mouth guard after every practice and game, you could be letting bacteria flourish. Bacteria and other microorganisms love to grow in dark moist environments—like your mouth guard for example.
To clean your mouth guard, simply scrub it out with a toothbrush and rinse it under cold water. Make sure that you store your dental guard in a dry ventilated container.
- There are 3 kinds of sports mouth guards
Stock, Boil & Bite, & Laminate-Pressed are the three different types of sports mouth guards. Stock guards are the generally inexpensive mouth guards you can find at most sport goods stores. However, these mouth guards aren’t adjustable to fit in your mouth comfortably and often obstruct your breathing.
Boil & Bite mouth guards offer more benefits since they can be heated and molded to fit your mouth thanks to their thermoplastic material. While they’re customizable they don’t offer as much support as Laminate-Pressed mouth guards.
These are custom fit in your dentist’s office and based on their instructions. They are more expensive, but they are more comfortable, protective, and supportive than the other two types.
- Replace your mouth guard every 6 months.
Your dental mouth guard won’t last forever. For the best protection, our dentist recommends you replace your teeth guard every 6 months. Once your mouth guard starts showing signs of wear and tear, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with your dentist.
Request an Appointment
Our Troy dentist is dedicated to helping patients maintain healthy smiles with sports mouth guards and other preventative dentistry services. To schedule your appointment, call Mosaic Dental at (248) 528-2270.
This blog post has been updated.
Teeth Whitening