The most important reason for children and youth to wear a sports mouth guard is that damaged permanent teeth do not grow back. They need to be repaired or replaced. A sports guard is a vital piece of protective equipment for youth or adults who are engaged in a variety of sports activities to prevent damage to teeth, or loss of teeth.
To protect the mouth and teeth is to also prevent dental costs necessary for dental repairs or jaw injuries. But how do you know which sports mouth guard is the best for you?
A well-fitting custom sports guard should be used for high contact sports such as football, wrestling, boxing, soccer, rugby, and hockey, or in lower contact sports like baseball, volleyball, and basketball.
Sports guards don’t just prevent chipped or knocked out teeth; they also protect lips, cheeks, the tongue, and the jaw. Sports guards prevent thousands of oral injuries every year. Sports guards should be cleaned with toothpaste and a toothbrush after each use and stored in a well ventilated hard plastic case.
No. Night guards are designed for a different purpose which is to protect the teeth from grinding (bruxism) while you sleep. They are not designed to protect teeth and soft tissues from external blows. Sports guards are specifically created to absorb shock and prevent damage.
There are several types of sports guards. A stock sports guard which you buy from a pharmacy or online is not made for your mouth, or your child’s mouth. Yes, you can put it in hot water then when it is soft, mold it to your teeth, but the result will still be a sports guard that was not designed for your teeth and your mouth. It will not be comfortable and that means you will likely stop wearing it.
A custom sports guard is made from a mold taken from your teeth and it is created in a dental lab. It will be comfortable because it was created just for you, and your mouth is unique. You know if the sports guard is for a young child and it is uncomfortable, he or she is not going to wear it.
At LOL Dental, we have 3 locations in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Our dentists, Dr. Lyna Naseri and Dr. Josee-Anne Dulude have created many sports guards for young and older athletes, and they know how to ensure your sports guard provides you with a comfortable fit. They work with children, teens, and adults to provide the protection they need to enjoy their sports activities safely.
Sports guards are plastic shields worn over teeth to provide protection when playing sports.
They help prevent injuries including:
Our sports guards are custom-made to provide you and your children with optimal dental protection. Each piece is designed specifically for the wearer to ensure it fits snugly in the mouth and does not hinder breathing or speaking.
To create your custom appliance, we’ll take a digital impression of your teeth and use pressure moulding technology to design a mouth guard that fits your teeth perfectly. Depending on your sport, we can also reinforce the mouth guard in certain areas for enhanced protection.
If you wear an orthodontic appliance, we strongly recommend using a custom mouth guard to reduce the risk of appliance breakage.
