Love Sports?
If you’re in danger of getting a dental injury through high-impact sports and if you don’t use any protection, you’re potentially leaving yourself open to painful and costly dental work in the long run. Good quality sports mouthguards can minimise the risk of your teeth getting chipped, broken, or even dislodged completely. But with a huge variety of options out there, how can you choose the right mouthguard for you?
Q: What does a mouthguard do?
A: Provides a defensive wall to keep your teeth, soft tissue, and jaw safe. Sometimes a traumatic blow will force your teeth and dental work against your lips or cheeks, which can end in painful tears and lacerations. By keeping soft tissue in the oral cavity away from the teeth, mouthguards help prevent cutting and bruising of the lips, tongue and cheeks
A sports mouthguard can protect you by:
- Cushioning your teeth against impact
- Protecting against jaw joint and soft tissue injuries
- Preventing neck and jaw injuries
- Reducing concussion
Q: When should I wear a mouthguard?
A: Whenever there’s a chance that your jaw might come into contact with other players, hard surfaces, or sports equipment, you should be wearing a mouthguard for protection.
Q: What should I look for in a mouthguard?
A: A good quality mouthguard is one that allows you:
- to speak and breathe easily
- stays in place throughout the action
- comfortable and fits well
- easy to keep clean,
- tear resistant and tasteless.
Custom-fitted Mouthguards
- The ideal mouthguard is one that has been fitted and custom-made for your mouth. The better your mouthguard fits, the better coverage and protection it gives you.
- Custom mouthguards are fitted by a dentist using an impression of your teeth and a plaster model.
- Custom mouthguards need to be regularly checked (once every year) to make sure they still fit correctly and are giving your teeth maximum protection.
To avoid pain and discomfort from sporting injuries, purchasing a custom-fitted mouthguard is your best option. Come and speak to one of our friendly, qualified dentists at Finesse Dental (8824 4800) for a discussion on how best to protect your teeth from damage 🙂