Certain contact sports like rugby, martial arts and ice and field hockey are amongst a few sports that make you and your children susceptible to tooth and jaw damage.
Custom made mouthguards are made by orthodontists to protect your teeth. Custom mouthguards are made from high grad silicone and fit each tooth perfectly. The effectiveness of these type of mouthguard come from the fact that they fit a person’s tooth structure and that there is no excess space to jeopardise the protection it offers. These are a far cry form ‘boil and bite’ mouthguards which can be bought from sports retailers, which offer very loose protection, especially against high contact during sports. Why? These type of mouth guard do not maintain their shape very effectively thus failing to protect your teeth.
How is my custom made mouth guard made?
Your orthodontist will take impressions of your teeth to send off to the dental technician, who will make up your mouthguard, based on the impression of your mouth. Taking an exact impression allows the technician to create an exact replica of your mouth, which is key to your mouth guard protecting you.
Mouthguards for braces
Having braces in can more greatly expose you to the dangers of contact during sports. It’s important to find out from you or your child’s sports team whether the need for top and bottom protection is required.
Some custom mouthguards also help protect the inside of the cheeks and lips from becoming damaged during potential contact.
If you are wearing a removable appliance, be sure to remove this before engaging in contact sports, as appliances (fixed and removable) render your more likely to incur damage.
Caring for my mouth guard
- Keep your mouthguard safe in a protective case to prevent the build up of dust and debris as well as damage.
- Thoroughly clean your mouth guard after each use and be sure to dry properly before placing back into its case.
- Do not leave your mouth guard out in high temperatures that might alter its shape.
- Check your mouthguard before and after each use to identify any wear and tear that may change its performance.
- Bring your mouthguard along to your orthodontic appointments so you can have it checked over.