It is important to protect the investment that you have made in your smile when actively participating in a contact sport. Taking special precautions such as wearing a mouthguard will help you avoid the complications that come with mouth injuries. The AGD estimates that mouthguards prevent more than 200,000 injuries each year.
Getting hit on the mouth or jaw can be a very painful experience, more so as an orthodontic patient as your teeth are already undergoing change and the impact could set back progress made with your orthodontist. A protective mouthguard is advised for playing sports such as hockey, rugby, ringuette, football and others. With the obvious tooth injury, there is also the financial pain that comes with needing an orthodontic device fixed. A mouthguard is a simple item that can save you the pain, time, and money that comes with dental injuries because of sports.
There are three kinds of mouthguards:
- Custom-made: The best choice is a customized mouthguard made personally for you by your dentist or orthodontist. A custom mouthguard offers the best protection; fit and comfort level because it is made from a cast to fit your teeth.
- Mouth-formed: These mouthguards come
as a “boil-and-bite” product from sporting goods stores. The shell is lined with acrylic or rubber. They are first softened in water (boiled), and then placed in the mouth to adapt to the shape of the individual then allowed to set. - Stock: The lowest cost option is an item that can be bought “off the shelf” from a drug or sporting goods store. Pre-formed, this mouthguard does not always fit snuggly since adjustment is limited.
In addition to wearing all the safety gear you would typically wear such as; a helmet, protective eyewear, and a facemask orthodontic patients should be equipped with a mouthguard. In case of any accident involving the face, and teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, please schedule an appointment at our office. Have fun and be active, but please don’t forget about those pearly whites.