Sports Guard At Dental Expressions we always recommend that our patients wear a custom mouthguard made by our dental professionals while playing contact sports. Mouthguards should be worn over your teeth to protect them. A covering can protect your teeth, gums, and cheeks from injury. Trauma to your teeth can happen by accident or because of a sports-related injury. However, damage and injury to your teeth can be reduced or even prevented by wearing a mouthguard. Wear A MouthguardIf you play a contact sport like wrestling, football, or basketball, our dentist will recommend wearing a mouthguard. Contacts sports include hands-on interactions between players during competition or practice like bumping into each other, defending each other, or tackling each other. If you play a contact sport, you will benefit from wearing a protective mouthguard since you have a higher risk of injury to your mouth. Mouthguards Should Be Made By Dental ProfessionalsOnly dental professionals can provide custom-fitted mouthguards, and it is the only recommended option. There are also two types of mouthguards available for you to buy at a drugstore or sporting goods store. Stock mouthguards are ready for you to wear when you purchase them. For this reason, dentists do not recommend stock mouthguards. They are not recommended though because they can make talking and breathing difficult. They can also be bulky while loose-fitting, therefore they will provide very little protection. Boil and bite mouthguards are made of a thermoplastic material that can be manipulated with heat. After you purchase a boil and bite mouthguard, place it in boiling water to soften the material. Place the guard in your mouth and bite down, then the pressure will transform the guard to fit your bite a bit better. Boil and bite guards are more custom than stock guards, but they are still not recommended. Mouthguards Are Made Out Of PlasticA custom-made athletic mouthguard is the best option to protect your teeth. Athletic mouthguards are sculpted from laminated thermoplastic, polyurethane, or acrylic. Your mouthguard will only cover your upper teeth, but if you wear braces you might need coverage for your bottom teeth. Your mouthguard will be durable, easy to clean, and should not cause issues with your breathing or speech. Wash Your Mouthguard And Keep It In A Hard Case To Keep It SafeEvery time you use your mouthguard, rinse it with cold water and wash it using a toothbrush and soap. Do this before and after using your mouthguard. When you store your mouthguard, keep it in a hard, perforated case. This type of case will permit airflow and keep bacteria from growing on your mouthguard. Protect your mouthguard from high temperatures to keep it from distorting. Keep your mouthguard away from direct sunlight, hot water, and hot surfaces. If your mouthguard becomes distorted or torn, replace it. Let Us Provide Your MouthguardThe best option to protect your teeth during sports is by getting a custom-fitted mouthguard at Dental Expressions. Please let us be your trusted care provider and call us now to get your custom mouthguard by dialing (971) 353-4448. |
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