Imagine this: your teenage son is playing in his school’s biggest soccer game of the year. The scores are tied, the stakes are high, and in all the intensity of the game someone knocks into him… and he chips a tooth! Or worse, one or two of his teeth are knocked out. When we are kids, losing teeth may not seem like a big deal… but when we don’t use a mouthguard, other parts of our mouths can be injured by broken teeth or teeth that are knocked loose. And once we have our adult teeth, there’s no growing them back after they are gone.
Mouthguards are an important way of protecting our teeth when playing sports or doing other activities that could result in mouth injuries. There are three different types of mouthguards available:
- Custom-fitted. These are made by your dentist for you personally. They are more expensive than the other versions, but because they are customized, usually offer the best fit.
- Stock. These are inexpensive and come pre-formed, ready to wear. Unfortunately, they often don’t fit very well. They can be bulky and can make breathing and talking difficult.
- Boil and bite. These mouth protectors can be bought at many sporting goods stores and drugstores and may offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. They are first softened in water (boiled), then inserted and allowed to adapt to the shape of your mouth.
Be sure to ask us about your best option for protecting your teeth!
Source: Mouthhealthy.org. “Mouthguards.”
Image Source: Ocortholab.com
