Protection Against Dental Injuries Offered by Mouth Guards

Wouldn’t your life be completely topsy-turvy if you unexpectedly lost a couple of front teeth due to an accident in a sporting activity? Everything around you like eating, speaking, and smiling would be affected to leave you wondering how you could have prevented this dastardly scenario. Unfortunately, the accident has already occurred; we can only state that it would have been better if you had information about how protection against injuries to your mouth in such activities is important because they can cause you to lose your teeth and leave you with a problem where everything seems upside down.

Mouthguards are also known as mouth protectors and should be worn if you are participating in contact sports of any kind. These protectors can help to cushion blows to the office and minimize the risks of injuries to your lips, tongue, face, jaw, and teeth. They are typically designed for covering the upper teeth and are a fantastic way to protect the soft tissues of your tongue, lips, and cheek lining. As your upper teeth stick out more, they often take the brunt of any trauma, making a mouth guard an essential requirement for participants in contact sports.

When Should A Mouth Guard Be Worn?

If you are intent on protecting your mouth without giving up on the sporting activities, you need to realize that a mouthguard should be part of your athletic gear from an early age. A mouthguard is not just for athletes in boxing and other similar activities because injuries can be experienced even from non-contact activities like skating and gymnastics.

Types of Mouth Guards You Can Choose

Local and online stores are offering quite a few mouth guards, which they claim are the best available in the market. However, while the manufacturers may have ensured the use of high-quality material during the production, they wouldn’t have customized the mouthguard for everyone because it would be impossible to do so. Therefore the best mouthguard is one that is custom-made by an orthodontist. These may be expensive but can offer the best protection to your mouth from injuries. Alternatively, if you find the custom-made mouthguards unaffordable, you can consider the boil and bite mouth guard available from drugstores. Consider the options mentioned below before you make a choice.

• Custom-made mouthguard: These are specifically made by your dentist for your mouth and more expensive than other versions. They are, however, individually created to fit you properly and comfortably.
• Boil and bite mouthguard: Many drug stores and sports goods stores are offering these mouth protectors and maybe a better option than the stock variety offered by many other stores. Before wearing them, they need to be so in boiling water before inserting in the mouth and allowing them to adapt to the shape of your mouth. Following the instructions of the manufacturer will prove beneficial, and you will also be able to find a couple of varieties that have received the seal of acceptance from the ADA as being effective.
• Stock mouth guards: These are the inexpensive variety and are ready to wear. Unfortunately, they do not offer a proper fit, are bulky, making it difficult for you to breathe and talk.

Mouth Guards And Protection To Your Braces

If you are wearing braces or have fixed dental bridgework, you may find it beneficial to invest in a properly fitted mouthguard. Your orthodontist will be happy to provide you with a mouth guard for braces because a blow to the mouth can damage the brackets and other appliances of the orthodontics. The orthodontist, can also offer a mouth guard for teeth grinding for individuals who would be suffering from the problem of bruxism. This prevents the individual from grinding and clenching his or her teeth because of the problem they are affected with.

Orthodontics has advanced immensely over the last few years and have even pioneered the introduction of a sleep apnea mouth guard for people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. This appliance can be used as a night guard in the mouth which will keep the lower jaw in a forward position helping the individual to breathe without obstructions in the throat

How to Care for The Mouthguard You Are Using

The most common signs of wear and tear should be the first indication that the mouth guard needs to be replaced. You can also discuss with the orthodontist near you about when is the right time to replace the appliance. Children and teenagers will need to find suitable replacements faster because their mouths are still growing and changing. They must also be stored properly and not allowed in the vicinity of pets that often seem to favor them as chew toys.

Being involved in the sporting activity of any kind without ensuring proper protection to your mouth would be similar to letting yourself be victimized by unknown individuals in a brawl. The better option for you would be to have a custom-designed mouthguard from an orthodontist in Bayport who will be able to ensure adequate protection for your mouth and teeth.