Safe Smiles for Active People
Mouthguards protect your smile while you engage in sports and other physical activities. Also known as sports guards or athletic mouth protectors, they allow kids, teens, and adults to stay safe while enjoying an active lifestyle.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) advocates wearing dental mouthguards during sporting or recreational activities. Anyone who participates in sports or other activities that could result in injury to the face can benefit from a dental mouthguard. At Corner Stone Dental, we’ll provide you with a custom-fitted mouthguard to protect your smile.
Mouthguards can also be used to protect against bruxism, which is the clenching or grinding of teeth, especially at night.
The Protection You Get From Mouthguards
In addition to protecting your teeth from becoming loose, broken, or knocked out, mouthguards can also help prevent:
- Cheek lesions
- Concussions
- Gum and soft tissue injuries
- Jawbone fractures
- Lip lesions
- Neck injuries
- Tongue lesions
- Tooth fractures
- Traumatic brain injury
Types of Mouthguards
There are several types of mouthguards and the one you choose depends on your budget and the kind of activity it’s needed for.
Most mouthguards fall into one of three main categories:
Stock Mouthguards
Stock mouthguards can be bought directly off the shelf and they’re made in a one-size-fits-all fashion. The mouthguard is readily available but it can’t be adjusted, meaning it doesn’t offer as much protection as other options. It can also obstruct proper breathing and speaking, and stock mouthguards usually aren’t very comfortable.
Boil and Bite Mouthguards
These mouthguards are made from thermoplastic and they can be found at sporting goods stores. The thermoplastic must first be immersed in hot water to make it pliable, then pressed onto the teeth to create a custom mold.
Boil and bite mouthguards are more expensive than stock mouthguards, but they offer greater protection and comfort.
Customized Mouthguards
A custom mouthguard is a kind professional athletes use. It’s provided by a dentist who will take an impression of your teeth to get a perfect fit. Custom mouthguards offer the greatest amount of protection and the highest level of comfort available.
Caring for a Mouthguard
Once you have a mouthguard, knowing how to keep it clean can make it last longer, so you get more protection. There are four main steps to caring for your mouthguard:
- Brushing — Brush your mouthguard with a toothbrush and toothpaste before and after every use to eliminate bacteria.
- Rinsing — Mouthguards need to be rinsed off periodically with soap and lukewarm water to prevent debris from getting stuck in them.
- Storage —When you’re not using your mouthguard, keep it in a firm case to protect it from being crushed or broken.
- Replacement — Eventually, your mouthguard will need to be replaced. It’s important to carefully monitor the condition of your mouthguard so it can provide the fullest level of protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mouthguards are used to protect teeth from sports injuries and bruxism. In sports, it can only take one injury to change your smile forever. Wearing a mouthguard while practicing or competing can prevent trouble from affecting the health or appearance of your smile.
Your smile can also be damaged by long-term bruxism or teeth grinding. Teeth grinding can occur subconsciously while you’re asleep and put pressure on your teeth that can damage them and lead to jaw pain. A mouthguard helps protect your teeth from this damage and relieves some pain.
Boil and bite mouthguards offer more protection than stock mouthguards, but they still don’t provide the level of protection a custom mouthguard does. A custom mouthguard from a dentist is made just for you and considers your unique circumstances. Mouthguards purchased on the general market may not prevent serious injuries as effectively.
No, night guards don’t ruin your teeth. In fact, night guards protect your teeth from the harmful effects of teeth grinding. If you grind your teeth at night, you put pressure on your teeth and jaw which can lead to pain and changes in your tooth shape.
Your mouthguard needs to be cleaned regularly and can make you sick if there’s a buildup of bacteria and germs in it. To clean your mouthguard, make sure you rinse it off when you remove it and gently brush it at least once a day. Taking care of your oral health by brushing your teeth, flossing, and visiting your dentist for cleanings also helps keep your mouthguard in good condition.