Every sport has specialized equipment like helmets, shoes, gloves, uniforms, pads, balls, bats, and sticks. Not just for children, mouthguards are intended to protect your teeth and dental work if you are involved in a contact sport. The American Dental Association recommends the use of a mouthguard for acrobatics, basketball, bicycling, boxing, equestrian, football, gymnastics, handball, ice hockey, inline skating, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, rugby, skateboarding, skiing, skydiving, soccer, softball, squash, surfing, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting, and wrestling. At the college level, the NCAA requires mouthguards in football, lacrosse, field hockey, and ice hockey.
The American Dental Association estimates that mouthguards prevent about 200,000 injuries each year in high school and collegiate football alone. Happily, there’s a mouthguard for every budget and every sport. Even the most costly custom mouthguards are a small price to pay compared to restorative and cosmetic dental work.
More than 90 percent of mouthguards are purchased at sporting goods stores. The other 10 percent are custom-made and designed by a dentist or other healthcare professional.
The most common types of sports mouthguards include:
· Ready-made or stock mouthguards found at sporting goods stores offer the least protection, and they impede speech and breathing. Not recommended.
· Mouth-formed or "boil-and-bite" mouthguards. The most commonly used type of mouthguards, these are made from thermoplastic material and are immersed in boiling water and formed in the mouth by using finger, tongue and biting pressure. Mouth-formed mouthguards often lack proper extensions and rarely cover all the back teeth.
· Custom-made mouthguards are created by a dentist who uses Vacuum Mouthguards and Pressure Laminated Mouthguards designed to fit the athlete’s mouth based on age, types of sports played and considerations like braces, missing baby teeth and fixed dental work (bridges and implants).
Custom-fitted mouth protectors are made in a professional laboratory. The dentist will take an impression of the teeth, and a mouthguard is molded over the model. Due to the extra time and work involved, this custom-made mouthguard is more expensive, but it provides the most comfort and protection.
Generally, mouthguards only cover the upper teeth, but in some instances (such as if you wear braces or another fixed dental appliance on your lower jaw), the dentist will make a mouthguard for the lower teeth, too.
Mouthguards vary in price and comfort, but all provide some protection. According to the American Dental Association, the most effective mouthguard should be comfortable, resistant to tearing, and resilient. A mouthguard should fit properly, be durable, easily cleaned and not restrict speech or breathing.
Taking care of a mouthguard is easy if you follow these steps:
· Rinse your mouthguard with cold water or a mouth rinse before and after each use and/or clean it with toothpaste and a toothbrush.
· Occasionally clean the mouthguard in cool, soapy water and rinse it thoroughly.
· Place the mouthguard in a firm, perforated container to store or transport it. This permits air circulation and helps to prevent damage.
· Protect the mouthguard from high temperatures (hot water, hot surfaces, or direct sunlight) to minimize distorting its shape. NEVER put a mouthguard in the dishwasher!
· Check the mouthguard for general wear. If you find holes or tears, or if it becomes loose or causes discomfort, replace it.
· Be sure to bring your mouthguard when you see your dentist, who will examine it for tears or other damage.
The National Youth Sports Foundation for the Prevention of Athletic Injuries, Inc. notes that dental injuries are the most common type of orofacial injury sustained in sports. Athletes who have teeth knocked out or whose teeth are not properly replaced may face a lifetime of dental repair ranging $10,000 - $15,000 per tooth, countless hours in the dentist's chair, and the possibility of developing other problems such as periodontal disease.
The dentists at the Southfield Family Dental Center are happy to recommend the best mouthguard for you! Call (248) 569-6304 to schedule your next appointment; we’re open six days a week and handle dental emergencies.
