Sports Mouthguards Adults and Children Protect Your Smile

The Team at your friendly neighbourhood Dentist believes that safety is a very important part of having fun. It's always good to play it safe when it comes to your oral health. People don't realise that mouthguards protect more than just their teeth. They prevent concussions and serious injuries involving the impact of the upper and lower teeth and jaws. Mouth guards are highly recommended for children and adults who participate in any sport that has the possibility of coming into contact with other players or surfaces that may cause injury. Mouthguards do not in any way replace the use of helmets used in angressive sports such as hockey, football, and skateboarding. They should be used together with protective gear to prevent injury.

What are the different types of mouthguards?

Custom Made:
The custom made mouthguards are the most satisfactory of all types of mouth protectors. They fulfill all the criteria for adaptation, retention, comfort, and stability of material. They interfere the least with speaking and studies have shown that the custom made mouthguard has virtually no effect on breathing.

Your custom made mouthguard is made by fabricating a cast model of your teeth that will give you the best fit, protection, and comfort and can be adjusted for specific sports and patient needs. We can even fabricate them in your Team Colours as we have our own dental laboratory. Our school and club service allows us to come directly to your club or school, all you need to do is give us a call to arrange it. tel 01342 325522

Stock or ready made:
The pre-made mouthguard is a generic size and shape with very limited comfort, protection, and durability. It is made of rubber or polyvinyl. You may have seen ready-made mouthguards in a department or sporting goods store. These generic mouthguards are inexpensive and readily available. Unfortunately, because they are not custom-fitted, they may seem bulky and uncomfortable in your mouth. Ready-made mouthguards are secured by closed jaws which means, when an athlete wears a ready-made mouthguard, speaking and breathing may be difficult.

Boil and bite or mouth formed:
This type of mouthguard made from plastic is heated and then bitten into to take the form and shape of the patient's teeth; but because it is not vaccuum-fitted, the fit may not be precise. The heating process can also limit the durability of the mouthguards use. Talk to our team or make an appointment to see Stephen Judge and you can discuss which type of mouthguard is recommended for you.

What do I do if I injure my tooth?

- Schedule an appointment with your dentist or our team immediately
- DON'T keep broken or dislodged teeth in tissue paper or gauze
- DO store the broken or dislodged teeth in cold milk or sterile saline
- DON'T assume the mouthguard will protect you from all injuries
- DO report all information about the accident to your Dentist or Doctor

The Canadian Dental Association recommends that you use a mouthguard for the following sports:

Acrobatics • Basketball • Boxing • Discus Throwing • Field Hockey • Football • Gymnastics • Handball • Ice Hockey • Lacrosse • Martial Arts • Racquetball • Rugby • Shotputting • Skateboarding • Snowboarding • Skiing • Skydiving • Soccer • Squash • Surfing • Volleyball • Water Polo • Weightlifting • Wrestling

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your mouthguard or if you are interested in getting a mouthguard, don't hesitate to contact us via email stevej@mybrilliantsmile.com or by phone at 

01342 325522.
We care about your oral and overall health!

-Your Friendly Neighbourhood Dental Team
www.mybrilliantsmile.com