Mouthguards are worn primarily to protect the teeth from oral injuries. They make sure that the mouth, including the lips, is shielded against damages. Athletic mouthguards, also known as sports mouthguards are used to save athletes from possible oral injuries caused by playing sports. It is an essential piece of equipment that will benefit its wearer in many ways. The MobileMouthguards lab would also like to add that teenagers wearing braces or dental appliances may also be given a mouthguard.

A Brief Background

Did you know that mouthguards go way back to the 1980s? It was initially invented by a dentist in London to protect the gums. The main idea was for boxers to wear it during a boxing fight to prevent a common injury in boxing which was lip lacerations.

Professional boxers started wearing sports mouthguards during the 1920s and it was followed by school football in the 1960s. Nowadays, several sports organizations are requiring mouthguards for athletes of different sports.

Types of athletic mouth guards

Mouthguards come in three different variations. Each mouthguard has its own advantages as well as drawbacks.

Stock Mouth Protectors

This particular mouthguard is pre-molded and is ready to wear. They can be bought at your local shops, specifically in sports stores, and are always affordable. What’s great about stock mouth guards is that they are easy to find, you can easily buy them anywhere anytime, and wear them right then and there. However, since they are ready to wear, most of the time they are bulky and big-sized for your mouth. Their bulkiness makes speaking and breathing a little bit difficult. Moreover, dentists do not usually recommend the use of this mouthguard, especially for athletic purposes, as it offers minimum protection only.

Boil And Bite Mouthguards

Just like stock mouth protectors, boil and bite mouthguards can also be purchased in any sports shop. This mouthguard is made of a thermoplastic material that must be placed on hot water to soften. Once softened, it can now be placed in the mouth and shaped according to the structure of the gums and teeth by pushing it with fingers. Its advantage in comparison with stock mouthguards is that it offers better fit and protection.

Custom-fitted Mouthguards

Custom-fitted mouthguards the most reliable kind of mouth protection. As a matter of fact, most sports mouthguards that athletes use are specifically designed just for them. This mouth guard is often recommended by the dentist and is made by dental professionals as well. To make the mouthguard perfect and highly dependable, the dentist will make an impression of the teeth and gums that will be used as the model in making the actual mouthguard. This offers maximum protection and fits your mouth perfectly making it the best choice in choosing sports mouthguards. Due to the extensive work and time involved in creating a custom-fit mouthguard, they come a bit more expensive than the others.

Importance of Athletic Mouth Guards

What do you think would happen if you lost a tooth or two all of a sudden? Surely it will have a huge impact on your self-esteem and confidence. Not to mention the several health problems that you will face because of a broken tooth.

Athletic mouthguards should be worn while playing sports because accidents can happen at any time. Wearing one will not only keep your teeth safe from damages but also maintains your natural smile.

Here are the other benefits of wearing a sports mouthguard:

• Protects teeth against damages.
• Prevents jaw pain.
• Alleviate headaches.
• Promotes better sleep.

Who Can Wear Mouth Guards

Mouthguards can be worn by anybody. Yes, from children to adults. Sports mouthguards are typically recommended to people who play physical sports like football, boxing, basketball, hockey, soccer, and many more. Other sports with less physical contact do not often require the use of athletic mouthguards, however, athletes can still wear them if they prefer.

Kids and adults who grind their teeth during sleep (Bruxism) are also asked to wear mouth guards to protect their teeth from any damages.

Mouthguard Care

It’s important to take care of your sports mouthguard because it has direct contact inside your mouth. This means that if the mouthguard is unsanitized, it could bring bacteria to the mouth and cause teeth decay.

To care for your mouthguard, here are the things to follow:

• Rinse your mouthguard before and after using. You may opt to use cold water and mouthwash for thorough cleaning.
• Clean the mouthguard with cool water only.
• Make sure that your storage is clean and well covered as well.
• Avoid exposing the mouthguard to high temperatures such as hot water, hot storage, or even sunlight. This could distort the shape of the mouthguard.
• Check your mouthguard from time to time to see if there are holes or minimal damages in it.
• Bring it to the dentists occasionally to see if it still fits you perfectly.