Enjoy Every Sporting Activity You Want Making Efforts to Protect Your Smile

Are you one of the many who regularly enjoys contact sporting activity but hasn’t considered protecting your smile when enjoying your favorite activity? You must consider wearing mouthguards right away because these are coverings worn over the teeth to protect them from injury during any sports.

Mouthguards should be part of the athletic gear of children and adults involved in contact sports such as boxing, soccer, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, basketball, and field hockey. Do not assume you are free from teeth injuries if you are involved in non-contact sports like gymnastics, mountain biking, or skateboarding because injuries may hit you when least expected, leaving you with broken and damaged teeth. The damages will affect not only your smile but also other tooth functionality. Wouldn’t it be beneficial for you to consider wearing a custom mouthguard right away under the circumstances?

Which Mouthguards Should You Choose for Yourself?

Speaking about mouthguards, the first choice that comes to your mind and is perhaps the most visible is the stock mouthguard available in most sporting goods stores and department stores. These devices can be ill-fitting, bulky, make breathing difficult, and provide minimal protection. Dentists recommend not to use these mouthguards. However, they are favored by many because of their inexpensive nature and ease of availability.

Another option available is the boil and bite mouthguard available at many sporting goods stores. These devices are made from thermoplastic material. You must place the mouthguard in hot water to soften before placing it in the mouth and shaping it around the teeth using your fingers and tongue to apply pressure. The procedure can be repeated as many times as you want to adjust the shape of the device.

Perhaps the best dental appliance to protect your teeth is a custom mouthguard customized for your mouth and created in a dental laboratory as per your dentist’s instructions. Custom mouthguards are created after your dentist takes impressions of your teeth and creates a model using a particular material. Using unique material for making the mouthguard and the additional time and work involved makes a custom mouthguard more expensive than other varieties. However, it provides the best protection and comfort.

As a rule, mouthguards only cover your upper teeth, but in some cases, if you are wearing braces or any other fixed dental appliance on your lower teeth, your dentist can create a mouthguard for your lower teeth as well. Your dentist can suggest the best dental appliance for your needs. A right mouthguard should offer comfort, durability, and resist tears while being easy to clean without restricting your speech or breathing.

Why Must You Consider Wearing a Mouthguard When Playing Sports?

Accidents can occur during any physical activity. If you have a mouthguard protecting you during sports, it can help limit the risk of mouth -related injuries to your lips, tongue, and other soft tissues. The dental appliance also allows you to avoid chipped or broken teeth, tooth loss, or nerve damage to a tooth.

You must not fear wearing custom mouthguards even if you have braces or other dental appliances. A custom-fitted mouthguard is specifically crucial for people wearing braces or has fixed bridgework. You can get help from your dentist or orthodontist on which mouthguard will provide excellent protection for the other dental appliances you have in your mouth.

Mouthguards Require Care When Being Used

Custom mouthguards provide excellent protection to your teeth when involved in any recreational activities. However, if you are regularly using them, you need to care for them appropriately. You can use the tips mentioned in this blog when caring for your custom mouthguards.

• You can use cold water to rinse your mouthguard or a mouth rinse before and after every use and clean it with mild soap and a toothbrush.
• Use cold soapy water for cleaning the mouthguard and rinse it thoroughly.
• Store the mouthguard in a perforated container for storage or transport. A perforated box permits air circulation and prevents any damage. If the mouthguard is created from acrylic, you must store it in freshwater.
• Protect the mouthguard from extreme temperatures like hot water, hot surfaces, or direct sunlight. The care helps to prevent distortion of the appliance.
• Regularly check the mouthguard for general wear and tear. If you observe any, replace it immediately.
• Your custom mouthguard needs attention from a dentist during the six-monthly visits. Please do not overlook the mouthguard when visiting your dentist because it allows you to have it checked by the dental professional.

If you are involved in recreational activities of any kind, having a custom mouthguard in your possession is a requirement you cannot overlook.