It is critical to always protect your teeth. An essential piece of equipment when playing sports, especially contact sports, is an athletic mouth guard. These are especially important if you are undergoing orthodontic care.
When a person that plays a contact sport neglects to wear a mouth guard, they increase their chances of injury by 60%. Neglecting to wear an athletic mouth guard could result in injuries that include tooth chipping, breakage, nerve damage, and even tooth loss. In order to prevent such problems, a mouth guard is simple and highly effective, protecting your pearly whites.
Athletic mouth guards are not only designed to be comfortable and nonintrusive, but they are also available in a variety of forms in order to suit an athlete’s specific needs or preferences.
Here is a list of the most common athletic mouth guards used today:
Custom Fabricated Mouth Guards
Custom fabricated mouth guards are created and customized by taking an impression of your teeth, then fabricating it to perfectly suit your smile. Many athletes prefer custom mouth guards since they are typically the most comfortable option, as well as tend to last longer and are more discreet than others. While a custom mouth guard may not be for every athlete, they are something to consider if you are a serious athlete. It is important to remember that these custom mouth guards do require time to complete.
Boil and Bite Mouth Guards
A boil and bite mouth guard is a semi-customizable mouth guard that can be done at home. By heating the specialized thermoplastic, you are able to manually shape it by biting it and allowing it to cool, forming your mouth guard.
Standard Athletic Mouth Guards
Standard mouth guards are typically designed to be one-size-fits all, and are readily available at most sporting goods stores. However, since these mouth guards are mass produced, they may not feel as comfortable or provide adequate protection, especially if you have braces or orthodontic appliances.
In order to protect your smile, as well as experience a more comfortable feeling when wearing your mouth guard, some degree of custom fitting is needed. Contact Beauty Smile Orthodontics today for more information on how we can help keep your smile healthy and happy.