The Importance of Mouthguards in Sport

As physical fitness is an important part of a healthy life, being involved in sports is a great way to maintain a fit body and mind. However, sports also come with injuries and problems that can be prevented with the proper equipment. Even a single blow to the mouth or jaw can cause serious damage to one’s smile. Therefore, the goal is to prevent this from happening in the first place by opting for the proper dental appliance to protect your smile while in the heat of the game.

Mouth guards are oral appliances that are designed to cover over your teeth to protect them from injury while on the field or court. Contact sports like football or boxing are often at the highest risk for dental injuries, so athletes involved in contact sports should always wear mouth guards.

How Mouthguards Work

Should your smile take a blow during a game, the mouth guard works as additional support to cushion your teeth, and also to disperse and evenly distribute the blow. Furthermore, mouth guards also prevent broken or chipped teeth, as well as prevent lacerations to the soft tissue in the mouth.

Types of Mouthguards

There are many types of mouth guards available, which offer a variety of different prices, fits and purposes. Mouthguards should always be durable but fit comfortably. While over-the-counter mouth guards are available at chemists and sporting stores, these inexpensive stock mouth guards often do not offer the protection and fit that most athletes need to safeguard their smiles. Therefore, dentists highly recommend getting custom-made mouth guards. While a bit more expensive, these mouth guards offer superior protection, comfort and fit.

Mouth guards are also highly recommended for athletes who wear braces to protect these orthodontic appliances from damage. Usually mouth guards are worn over the upper teeth only; however, those who also have braces on their lower teeth can opt to wear mouth guards on both the upper and lower set of teeth.

If you or your child could benefit from custom-made mouthguards, please contact our office and book in an appointment today to find out more!

For more information on Mouthguards in Ipswich, call Limestone Dental Group at 07 3281 1466.