Sports Guard If you need to protect your oral cavity during sports, you should wear a mouthguard. Your mouthguard is a removable covering that you wear over your teeth. If you wear this guard it will protect your teeth, gums, tongue, and cheeks from injury. If you have a traumatic injury caused to your teeth during sports, damage can be reduced or even prevented by wearing your mouthguard. Our dentist at Simonsen Dental will always recommend that you wear a mouthguard while playing contact sports.Who Needs A Mouthguard?We will recommend that you wear a mouthguard if you play a contact sport. If you are unsure if you play a contact sport or not, the players of the activity will come into contact with others during competition, therefore creating a higher opportunity for injury. If this is true for your sport or activity, you should wear a mouthguard while playing. If you are someone that enjoys a recreational activity that may present the risk of an injury to your mouth you will definitely benefit from wearing a protective mouthguard. What Will My Mouthguard Be Made Of?Your mouthguard should be durable, you should be able to clean it very easily, and it should not cause issues with your breathing or speech. Generally, your mouthguard will only cover your upper teeth, but if you wear braces your mouthguard can cover the bottom teeth as well. If you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth during sports it will normally be constructed out of laminated thermoplastic, polyurethane, or acrylic for athletics. How Do I Take Care Of My Mouthguard?Each time you use your mouthguard, be sure to thoroughly rinse it with cold water and clean it using soap and a toothbrush before and after. If you need to store or transport your mouthguard, be sure to keep it in a hard, perforated container. This will allow air circulation, and you can prevent damage to your mouthguard while not in use. If your mouthguard is acrylic, you may refresh it by storing the mouthguard in cool and clean water. If you want to keep your mouthguard from distorting, you need to protect it from high temperatures. This means that you may want to keep your mouthguard away from direct sunlight, hot water, and hot surfaces. If your mouthguard becomes loose or torn, be sure to replace it immediately so that it maintains its effectiveness. Where Can I Get A Mouthguard?If you would like to protect your teeth while playing sports by wearing a mouthguard, the best kind will be made by our dentists. Only dental professionals can provide custom-fitted mouthguards. If you would like to buy your mouthguards at the pharmacy, sporting goods store, or online, there are two kinds available: stock or boil and bite. Buying a stock mouthguard will come ready for you to wear, this means they are formed beforehand, and their fit cannot be adjusted. For this reason, dentists do not recommend that you spend money buying stock mouthguards. Using a stock mouthguard can be bulky but also provide little protection, they can also make talking and breathing difficult for you while wearing it. Buying a boil and bite mouth protector, it will be made of thermoplastic material which can be manipulated by heat in order to shape the mouthguard to your bite. If you want to shape this kind of mouthguard, place your boil and bite guard in boiling water to soften the material, then place it in your mouth and bite down. If you bite down on the thermoplastic material the pressure will transform the guard to fit your bite. Boil-and-bite mouthguards may offer a more custom-feeling fit than stock mouth guards, however, they will not provide the best coverage. If you want the best protection, our dentists recommend that you come to our office and have your mouthguard custom-made. What Is The Best Option For My Mouthguard?If you want to protect your smile with a mouthguard for sports, allow our dental professionals at Simonsen Dental to provide you with the best care. Our custom-fitted mouthguards are the best option for protecting your teeth from injury. Additionally, our mouthguards are made from the most durable materials and are made to fit your specific mouth. Call our office at (503) 213-7004 to set up an appointment. |
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