Mouth Guards

One of the common sports injuries and one of the biggest bills is a damaged tooth. Luckily, there is a smart solution to ensure that you are protected and can play hard without the concern of dental damages. It is wearing the sports mouth guards!

So, what exactly are these mouth guards? A mouthguard is basically a soft plastic or laminate device that offers to cushion your teeth while playing. In other words, it is like a dental tray, which forms to the shape of your teeth, gums and mouth. It comes in flexible materials that you can place snuggly over your teeth. Moreover, it creates a barrier between your lower and upper teeth. This, in turn, prevents them from crashing together during any impact. Above all, it protects your teeth from being hit by something outside of the mouth. Hence, they are an immensely important device for high impact sports. That’s why we are going to take a look at them in detail. In this article, we shall look at some significant types of mouth guards and a few tips to pick them right.

The significant types of mouthguards

Luckily, most sports recommend the players/athletes to wear their mouthpieces, especially during the high impact sports like rugby or baseball. Therefore, owning them is imperative. But, like any other product, they too come in several types and models. More variety accompanies more confusion. That is, with so many types in the market, picking out the one that perfectly suits your needs becomes an arduous task. However, understanding the various models do help a bit. For this reason, we’ve enlisted here a few major types of sports mouth guards that’ll protect your teeth thoroughly.

The custom mouthguards

Of course, you get a wide variety of mouthguards in the market. But, you can also custom make your mouth guards against your dentists. How do they do it? Well, first they take a mould of your teeth. They then, use this to create the mouth guard that fits precisely for the structure of your teeth and mouth. Undoubtedly, this offers a much better fit than the boil-and-bite or stock mouthpieces. Hence, this gives you maximum comfort. Additionally, they reduce the risk of accidentally dislodging while you’re sleeping. However, remember that these cost you more than your other counterparts. But they are indeed worth the money.

The importance of wearing mouth guards for braces

Injuries to the mouth, gums, jaws and teeth are some of the most common injuries that occur during any high impacted sports. Amusingly, the presence of braces reduces the risk of displacing or losing your teeth or any significant mouth/teeth injury. However, for more ‘common’ sporting dental damages, the use of a mouth guard while having braces will give your teeth the extra protection it needs. Apart from that, the use of mouthguards while wearing braces prevents damage to the brackets from the blow to the face. Moreover, it acts as a barrier between the braces, cheeks and lips. Hence, it is always a good idea to wear these mouthpieces even if you have braces on them.

The boil and bite mouth guards

One of the most popular types of mouth protection pieces; these allow a closer fit to the wearer’s mouth. But why exactly are they called boil and bite? Well, that’s because a typical boil and bite mouthguard is placed in boiling water for a set among of times first. This allows them to become pliable, which you can then place it onto your teeth. It snuggly fits your teeth and stays there till it is cooled. Most of these types come in a soft material that forms to your teeth and mouth and hardens in place. In other words, it feels like you are wearing a custom-fit mouthguard. Moreover, you just need to put a little pressure from the jaw to make them stay in place.

The best teeth grinding guards

Many children and adults suffer from bruxism. It is a condition that causes nocturnal teeth grinding and jaw clenching. Of course, it is life-threatening; it can still lead to chronic headaches, jaw pain, and even chipped teeth. While there is no cure for it, the specialised mouth guards for teeth grinding is a relief. Some anti-bruxism mouthguards are customised for your mouth while others like the boil and bite mouthpieces do wonders, as they are a universal fit. Some of the models designed explicitly for teeth grinding, not only help prevent the teeth grinds but also help in whitening your teeth. Apart from that, it also severs as an athletic mouthguard for sports like wrestling or football.

The mouth guard for sleeping and reducing snoring

Obviously, these mouth protection pieces, prevent damage and injury to your teeth. But did you know? They can also help reduce snoring! Snoring generally happens due to the vibrations of soft tissue in your upper airway. The mouth guards work by pulling down your lower jaw forward. This, in turn, keeps your airway open. Indeed, you’ll find several types of over-the-counter mouthguards in stores and online. And most of them claim to cure the problems of snoring. However, not much research has been done on them and their efficiency and effectiveness. But, if your snoring is affecting your daily life, then it is best to talk to your dentist about the mouth guard options to prevent it.