Athletic Mouth Guards

“Don’t forget your mouthguard!”

If you’re an athlete in a high contact sport, you’ve probably heard this phrase multiple times from your coach, peers, or parents.

Well, your mouth consists of both soft and hard tissues that control how organs such as the teeth, tongue, and lips function.

A hit or blow to these tissues can potentially cause severe bruises and knock out a tooth or two.

Even worst, falling headfirst without protective gear during sports such as ice hockey or lacrosse can cause jaw fractures, neck injuries, concussion, and cerebral bleeding.

This is where the athletic mouth guard comes in.

Mouthguards are designed to absorb and distribute the forces of impact and reduce traumatic injury to both the hard and soft tissues in your mouth.

Read on to find the significant reasons why you need one and how to choose your ideal fit.

How mouth guards work

Mouthguards are made with a variety of materials including natural rubber, vinyl resin, polyurethane, and acrylic resin.

Due to the nature of their materiality, sports mouthguards are proven to prevent dental injuries that result from collisions and accidental falls by acting as a buffer.

In fact, you’re 60 times more likely to suffer an accident as an athlete engaging in high contact sport activity without a mouthguard.

As previously mentioned, an ideal mouth guard is designed to absorb and distribute impact evenly. This way, it keeps the force of impact less concentric and minimizes the degree of traumatic injuries to both the hard and soft tissues of the mouth.

A football mouth guard will cover your teeth and prevent them from being knocked out the next time your opponent makes a tackle.

Likewise, a volleyball mouth guard will caulk your teeth from injuries whenever your opponent shoots out their hands in the air to make a rebound and accidentally hits your mouth.

Who should wear a mouthguard?

Every athlete needs excellent level protection to keep their focus, agility, and performance.

According to the American Dental Association, every sport that carries a certain risk of injury to the dental area is worth a mouthguard.

The use is not limited to contact sports alone; you also need this crucial protective piece for non-contact sports such as gymnastics and skateboarding.

Finding your ideal fit

A wide assortment of mouthguards is available at your disposal in your local sporting goods store or pharmacy.

However, due to the varying sizes and fits, any mouthguard can’t be your ideal fit. Wearing the wrong guard increases your risk of other injuries by causing discomfort and irregular distribution of impact force.

Even the boil-and-bite guards that you can soften by heating at home may not protect you from intense impact.

This leaves you with only one choice–getting a customized mouth guard that is tailored to fit your jawlines and ridges.

Customized mouth guards shouldn’t cost you a lot, yet they can save you thousands of dollars in the form of medical bills. Plus, you can always bargain with your dentist to reach the price you desire.

Bottom Line

Invest in one today and you’ll stand a chance to protect your mouth from injuries, some of which are extreme and can cost you a fortune. Visit us at Springvale Dental Clinic today!