Eastboro Dental | Comprehensive Oral Health Care in Orleans
Sports Mouth Guards
Protecting Your Oral Health
Without proper mouth protection, sports injuries to the jaw and mouth can lead to painful issues and costly dental restorations. Custom-fitted sports mouth guards, made by a dentist, protect your mouth from impact and keep your smile intact.
Mouth Guards for Sports
For both amateur and professional athletes, mouth guards are an essential piece of protective equipment. They are typically made from thin, clear plastic that fits over the teeth. Most often, a mouth guard fits over the top teeth only, although if you have orthodontics or restorations on your bottom teeth, you may need a separate guard.
Your dentist may recommend wearing a mouth guard while participating in competitive or high-impact sports such as hockey, basketball, gymnastics, football, baseball, or mountain biking.
While many people wear mouth guards primarily to protect their teeth—especially the front teeth—they also prevent a variety of other injuries. In addition to impact protection, mouth guards can help prevent teeth grinding and clenching during games or practice. Guards for grinding can relieve and prevent long-term jaw pain, and may also reduce the risk of developing TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders. Finally, a guard may protect your head and brain by lowering the risk of concussions when impacts occur to the lower jaw.
Types of Mouth Guards
There are several types of mouth guards that athletes can use. Since most sports involve a lot of movement and activity, it’s important to consider the comfort, fit, and function of each type of mouth protection. You’ll want a solution that allows you to play without focusing on your mouth.Dentists offer professional dental guards for playing sports. Mouth guards that are offered by dentists are built from an impression of your teeth, ensuring a fully customized fit. You’ll usually need two dental appointments: one to have the impression made, and one to have the final product fit onto your teeth and checked by your dentist. You can typically choose the colour of your mouth guard and will receive a case to keep it in when you aren’t using it.
Another option is over the counter mouth guards that are sold in drug stores and online. These are often referred to as “boil and bite” mouth guards because they are formed to the teeth using hot water. Over the counter mouthguards are often less expensive, but they need to be replaced more often than professional dentist-grade mouth guards.
Stock mouth guards are not designed for your specific teeth. Instead, they come ready to wear without any customization. Although they’re very inexpensive, the size and shape of stock mouth guards often makes them less comfortable to wear. They may also impede breathing and speaking, which can be a challenge depending on the sport you play.
Dentists also offer other types of dental appliances and mouth protectors. For example, if you grind your teeth at night (a condition known as bruxism), your dentist may recommend a night guard. Other dental appliances can be used as part of a treatment plan for snoring or sleep apnea.
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3732 Innes Road, Unit 1
Orleans, ON K1W 0C8
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(613) 841-6100