24 Feb Custom Mouthguards: Not Just for Professional Athletes
When we watch professional athletes like football players, we often see them wearing orofacial protective gear like mouthguards and chinstraps. There is a reason why athletes wear protective appliances, it is to protect the oral cavity and lower half of the face from enduring hard and soft tissue injuries. Facial trauma typically requires treatment from an oral surgeon because these injuries are complex, painful, and even disfiguring. While many people might think that only professional athletes need protective mouthguards, the truth is that athletes of any skill and people that participate in high-risk physical activities should wear oral appliances like mouthguards, too.
Sports and Activities Where Mouthguards are Beneficial
There are a variety of sports and activities where people should invest in protective oral appliances. Common ones include:
- Football
- Basketball
- Skateboarding
- Horseback riding
- Wrestling
- Cycling
- Martial Arts
Wearing a mouthguard for activities like these can prevent facial trauma including lacerations to soft oral tissue and the face while also preventing teeth from becoming broken, dislodged, and knocked out. While some people might purchase mouthguards at sporting goods stores, these oral appliances can’t compare to the comfort and protection that a custom made mouthguard provides. A custom mouthguard is designed to fit the intricate and unique shape of a person’s mouth and teeth. This allows for a maximum level of comfort and protection by reducing the negative space between the mouthguard and teeth. Moreover, the more comfortable an oral appliance is, the more likely it is to be worn.
Making a custom mouthguard involves our doctor taking molds of a patient’s teeth to develop precise specifications that accommodate the size of a person’s mouth, the exact curve of the jawbone, and shape of the teeth.
If you are interested in having a custom mouthguard made, we recommend that you schedule a consultation at our practice. At your appointment, we will take molds of your teeth and discuss your physical activity habits to make the best recommendations for protecting your oral health and wellbeing.