A mouth guard or gum shield is a soft plastic device used to protect your mouth during sports. It can help to prevent injuries to your teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks and jaw. According to the American Dental Association, around one-third of all dental injuries can be linked to sports. If you regularly take part in sports, a custom mouthguard could help you avoid painful and costly injuries as mouthguards absorb and evenly spread the force of a blow to the face and mouth. Common injuries that occur as a result of not wearing a mouthguard include broken or cracked teeth, lip and cheek injuries, root damage, fractured jaws and concussion.
For some sports, wearing a mouthguard is standard, however, you can avoid injuries by wearing a mouthguard for a wide range of sporting activities. Contact sports like football, rugby and basketball are notorious for injuries, but you should also consider wearing a mouthguard for the following sports:
There are a few options when it comes to mouthguards. Off the shelf mouthguards will be made of harder plastic and aren’t customised to your bite. These offer limited protection and can cause problems if they don’t stay in your mouth. The second type is the “boil and bite” mouthguard. After placing the mouthguard in boiling water, you allow it too cool slightly and then put it in your mouth and bite down. The problem with these mouthguards is that they are often made of thinner plastic, to make them pliable when they are heated. As a result, some people may bite all the way through when forming them which can make them weaker and less effective. They often become loose and offer less protection over time. The final option is to get a custom fitted mouthguard designed by your dentist. This is by far the best option to protect your teeth.
If you’re thinking about using a mouthguard for sports, it’s important that you choose a custom mouthguard. Your dentist will be able to create a custom mouthguard that is perfectly formed to protect your teeth and gums. This will provide the best possible protection for your teeth, gums and jaw. They aren’t as bulky as the over the counter alternatives, which means your performance won’t be impeded. And since the mouthguard is custom to you, you will be much less likely to skip out on wearing it.
You will need to visit your dentist so they can take impressions of your teeth in order to create the perfect protective mouthguard. Our custom mouthguards start from £60. It is also possible to have your mouthguard in different colours, add text or even choose your own design. Below are a couple of examples. Get in touch to book your appointment, or find out more about custom mouthguards from Dental Solutions.
