Protect Your Teeth with a Sports Mouthguard
Protect those pearly whites with a mouthguard made to fit your mouth when you play sports, especially if you play a contact sport or are vulnerable to injury.
There is no better feeling than scoring a goal, getting a touchdown, or hitting a home run! The crowds are going wild cheering you on and after the game, all you can do is smile! But sports are physically tough and you could get hit in the face at any moment. While you can’t always prevent getting hit, you can prevent something from ruining your smile. By wearing a mouth guard you can help keep your smile intact and keep you from extra trips to the dentist. You can even get a custom mouthguard made to fit perfectly in your mouth. You can even get it made in the color of your team with your name and jersey number on it too! There are custom-fitted mouthguards available from your dentist, some great over-the-counter options for mouthguards, and even special mouthguards made to protect your braces.
Custom-Fitted Sports Mouthguards
Most dentists will recommend a custom-fitted mouthguard. This is because when custom-made, the mouthguard is molded to fit and protect every little groove in your mouth. The superior fit of a custom mouthguard offers you the most protection you can get from one.
To get fitted you’ll need to make a dentist appointment. From there your dentists will take impressions and molds of your teeth. The molds are sent to a lab where they create a mouthguard based on the shape of the mold. Once the mouthguard is ready your dentist will call you to come try it on to see if any adjustments are necessary to achieve maximum comfort and protection. Your dentist will look to make sure it isn’t loose or bulky. A mouthguard that doesn’t fit right won’t be as effective.
Over the Counter Mouthguards for Sports
Though over-the-counter mouthguards aren’t as detailed as a custom mouthguard, they still offer great protection. Lots of these mouth guards are considered “Boil-and-bite”. This is where you boil the mouthguard so the material gets soft. Once soft you will bite into it, leaving impressions and bite marks on your mouthguard. This will help the mouthguard mold to your teeth and help with comfort by not conflicting with any grooves in your mouth. You can repeat these steps to reshape the mouthguard for the best fit.
Sports Mouthguards for Braces
If you have braces, it’s super important to wear a mouth guard when playing sports. Just think of the complication that could be caused by a ball or a person hitting a mouth full of sharp wires at full force. Mouthguards for braces are surprisingly comfortable. Lots of people still use a braces mouthguard after they have their braces removed because of the flexibility of them. Often made of silicone, these mouthguards are designed to conform to the upper brace bracket to provide maximum comfort no matter the shape of your mouth. It adapts and changes as your teeth move in your mouth and are made to protect you from any laceration.
Find the sports mouthguard that’s right for you… and play on!
With multiple options for mouthguards, it is easy to get one that is right for you. Your mouthguard protects more than just your teeth, it protects your tongue from accidentally getting bit during a collision and keeps your gums safe. Whether is store-bought or custom-made, the most important choice is that you wear your mouthguard and protect that smile. Ask your dentist and see what opinion is best for you.