Do you like to play sports? Lots of people do but not so many take the trouble to wear a properly fitting mouthguard. Dental injuries can and do happen and according to the American Dental Association an athlete is 60 times more likely to end up with an injury to their teeth when not wearing a well-fitting mouthguard. It is estimated that around 200,000 dental injuries could be prevented every year had a mouthguard been worn.
Mouthguards Are Not a Modern Invention
You might imagine that mouthguards were only invented a few years ago, but in fact they were originally worn by boxers back in the 1920’s. By 1962 their use was recommended for High School Football. Nowadays mouthguards are recommended for 29 different sporting activities by the American Dental Association and it is an extremely good idea to wear one if you play any sport where there is a risk of injuries.
Which Types of Mouthguards Are Best?
There are lots of different types of mouthguards, including some you can buy extremely easily and cheaply over the counter. Some are stock mouthguards while others can be softened in hot water and adapted as best you can to fit over your teeth and gums. In spite of this, it is better to pay a bit more and to get a mouthguard which will fit properly and offer maximum protection. When you consider the lifetime costs associated with repairing or replacing damaged or knocked out teeth as a result of dental emergency, then a custom-made mouthguard begins to look like a very sensible investment. In addition, a custom mouthguard should be comfortable to wear, will be long-lasting and should not hinder your breathing. In short, you are more likely to be comfortable enough to actually wear the mouthguard during sports.
We Can Soon Make a Custom-Fitting Mouthguard for You
The process to make a mouthguard is very quick as we will simply need to take an impression of your mouth which is used by our dental laboratory for fabrication. Your dentist at the Cosmetic Dentistry Center will want to know the types of sports you enjoy playing so the mouthguard can be individually designed to take your needs into account. We will specify the best types of materials for the lab to use so it will combine the greatest level of comfort and protection. It will be made from strong, odorless, tear resistant materials and will have the correct amount of thickness in critical areas.
Our custom mouthguards are easy to look after as you just need to clean them after each use, either by rinsing or brushing with a toothbrush and a little toothpaste and afterwards store in the container provided. Make sure the mouthguard is not near a direct source of heat as this could warp or distort it. With proper care your mouthguard should last for quite a while before it eventually needs replacing.
What About Performance Enhancing Mouthguards?
High performance mouthguards have been recently introduced to the market and these claim to help improve strength and endurance while decreasing stress. As yet clinical trials have not yet been thoroughly conducted on these mouthguards, although they do look promising. Casual sports players are likely to find conventional custom mouthguards will be just as good.
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