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Prevent dental injuries with custom-made sports mouthguards

The most common types of facial injuries in sports are dental injuries. At Jonathan J. Golab, DDS, PA, we offer custom-made sports mouthguards as part of our dentistry that can help prevent facial trauma.

Importance of Wearing a Dental Mouthguard

The American Association of Orthodontists found that 84 percent of children do not wear a sports mouthguard while participating in sports because it is not mandatory, unlike other protective material like helmets, shin guards, and goggles. However, over 20,000 dental injuries are prevented every year by wearing a sports mouthguard.

Contact sports like wrestling, boxing, football, soccer, and basketball all pose a high risk of injury to the jaw and mouth. This risk is minimized by wearing sports mouthguards.

Sports mouthguards are made of a thin and flexible plastic material that typically covers the upper teeth. The mouthguard is designed to protect against fractured or knocked off teeth, cut lips, bitten tongue, and other injuries to the mouth and is different than a nightguard.

If you wear orthodontic braces on your lower jaw, we recommend a mouthguard for your lower teeth as well.

Types of Sports Mouthguards

Although there are a variety of mouthguards available, the best mouthguards perform various functions:

  • Protects the teeth, the soft and hard tissues of the mouth and the jaw joint.
  • Reduces risks of neck injuries and concussions.
  • Distributes the force of a hit throughout the mouthguard.
  • Remains comfortable and securely in place during sports.
  • Allows proper speaking and breathing.
  • Does not tear easily.

There are three types of mouthguards:

Stock Mouthguards

Stock mouthguards are inexpensive and can be bought from a pharmacy or sporting goods store. They are typically made of rubber and come in limited sizes. As a result, they do not fit well and cause problems in breathing and speaking. The Academy of Sports Dentistry strongly recommends not using stock mouthguard as a dental protective device.

Boil-and-Bite Mouthguard

The boil-and-bite mouthguard comes in premade forms and needs to be boiled in water first so that the plastic becomes soft and can mold into the shape of the wearer’s teeth when they bite on it. These mouthguards offer a better fit than stock mouthguards. This mouthguard is quite popular among athletes.

Custom-Made Mouthguard

Custom-made mouthguards are created at Jonathan J. Golab, DDS, PA and offer the wearer the maximum amount of protection and comfort. We take an impression of your teeth and then fabricate the mouthguard based on it. Custom-made mouthguards help you speak and breathe better and are hence preferred by most athletes. They are also the most expensive, but the cost is worth it when compared to the cost of fixing broken teeth or a dental implant.

How Long Do Mouthguards Last?

Stock mouthguards do not last a long time at all and can easily break when you suffer facial trauma. As a result, they are not recommended for wear during sports matches. Custom-made mouthguards are the most durable and long-lasting and can last a whole season.

Children and adolescents should replace their mouthguards every few months because their jaw continuously grows until adulthood.

Many athletes have a new mouthguard made when they go for their biannual dental checkup.

If you play sports and need a mouthguard, contact your Flower Mound Dentist at (469) 444-2119, and we will schedule an appointment to get you fitted with a custom-made mouthguard.