If you play a contact sport, a mouth guard is a must to protect your teeth - and your season. While these sports are invigorating, an elbow (or ball) to the mouth can quickly end your season and send you to the emergency room with a pricey and painful injury. Wearing a mouth guard can help protect you from these dangers and ensure that you are ready to smoke the competition without worrying about the possibility of serious dental injuries.
Recognizing the need to protect your teeth
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), one-third of dental emergencies are caused by sports-related incidents. They recognize the preventative value of sports mouth guards to avoid these injuries, with an estimated 200,000 dental injuries that could have been avoided through the use of mouth guards during activity and contact sports. These dental injuries include obvious sports injuries like cracked or chipped teeth, but a lack of proper mouth guard can lead to concussions and severe jaw or neck injuries.
Considerations
Who should wear a dental guard? If you or your child plays a high-contact sport such as hockey or football, a guard is necessary. Research shows that dental guards can also provide beneficial protection for low-contact sports such as gymnastics, basketball, and skiing, where dental injuries are less commonplace but can still have damaging and lasting effects.
A properly fitting guard covers the top row of teeth, providing a cushioned barrier between your teeth and the point of impact, lessening the pressure placed on your jaw and preventing teeth from being knocked loose during the impact. While there are many options out there ranging in cost, there are three main categories of mouth guards:
Types of mouth guards
Stock
Stock guards can be widely purchased and take a "one size fits all" approach with no ability to customize the guard to your unique jaw size and shape. While these mouth guards are the least expensive option, they can often cause discomfort during activity due to the poor fit. While a stock guard is better than no protection, it is not recommended as a long-term solution.
Boil and bite
Boil and bite guards can also be found and purchased widely, though they aim to provide athletes with additional comfort through material that can be placed in boiling water and then molded to the athletes' teeth. This type of guard can provide additional comfort through a personal fit, allowing athletes to breathe easily during activity.
Custom
Custom mouth can be purchased through your dentist and will provide the highest level of comfort and protection during activity. They are professionally molded to fit your jaw and teeth and are typically made with the most durable materials, allowing for a comfortable fit and durability.
Whether you use a stock or custom guard, adding this to your equipment can help protect your teeth and avoid the preventable injuries that can occur during activity.
Call us to schedule a consultation
UC Smiles Orthodontics offers custom mouth guards in the Universal City area. Are you ready to learn more? Call our office to get started or schedule a consultation.
Request an appointment here: https://universalcity.ucsmilesortho.com or call UC Smiles Orthodontics at (210) 593-7623 for an appointment in our Universal City office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Mouth Guards in Universal City, TX.
Related Posts
Invisalign is a popular orthodontic treatment that helps align teeth discreetly and comfortably. After completing treatment with Invisalign, it is essential to maintain results to ensure a long-lasting, healthy smile. Proper post-treatment care supports the alignment achieved and prevents shifting that may compromise function or aesthetics.The most critical step in maintaining Invisalign results is the…
Clear aligners are a popular way to address orthodontic issues, such as crooked or crowding teeth. Over the years, the technology behind clear aligners has greatly improved, which has created competition when it comes to choosing aligners over the traditional route of metal braces. When having the teeth straightened with clear aligners, the entire process…
Braces for teens are one of the most common orthodontic treatments offered today. As children grow into their teen years, they often need help correcting crooked teeth or bite problems. Choosing the right kind of braces can help improve not only a teen’s smile but also their confidence.Many teens need braces to fix problems like…
Any parent or guardian looking for a pediatric orthodontist will need to do a bit of legwork. You have to find an orthodontist that both you and your child can stick with for the long term. The good news is that your child will benefit from timely and effective treatment.To help with your search, here…