Mouth guards typically cover the upper teeth and are designed to protect against broken teeth, cut lips, and other damage to your mouth. If you wear braces or other fixed dental appliances (such as a bridge) on your lower jaw, your dentist may suggest a mouth protector for these teeth as well.
What Are Sports Guards and Mouth Guards?
Sports guards, mouth guards, and mouth protectors are different names for the same thing: a device worn over your teeth that protects them from blows to the face and head. Mouth guards are an important piece of athletic equipment for anyone participating in a sport that involves falls, body contact, or flying equipment. This includes football, basketball, baseball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding, gymnastics, mountain biking — any activity that might result in an injury to the mouth.
What kind of Mouth Guards are made at Brush Dental?
- Custom-made mouth guards — These are individually designed and made by Brush Dental. Not surprisingly, they are likely to provide the most comfortable fit and best protection. Your Brush Dentist makes an impression of your teeth and then constructs the mouth guard over a model of them. Because they fit and feel better, most athletes prefer customized mouth guards.
- These guards are usually better than the Boil and bite mouth guards (Pre-formed shape that can be altered by boiling the mouth guard in water) and Stock mouth guards (Inexpensive and come pre-formed, but do not fit very well. They can be bulky and may make breathing and talking difficult.
How Long Should Mouth Guards Last?
Mouth guards should ideally be replaced after each season because they can wear down over time, making them less effective. Replacement is especially important for adolescents because their mouths continue to grow and teeth continue to develop into adulthood. Many athletes who play several sports have new mouth guards made when they go for their six-month dental checkup.