Athletic Mouth Guards

Mouth guards can be the difference between a bruised lip and a toothless smile. Recently, safety regulations have been beefed up in many youth, collegiate, and professional sports mandating that all players wear protective mouth guards. It shouldn’t be a surprise why, of course, but regardless – let’s dive into this issue a little deeper.

There are essentially two different types of mouth guards. The guards that are molded to fit a regular set of teeth, and the guards that are fitted to match a specific person’s mouth. While cheaper, the stock mouth guards are predictably less effective. They can also be uncomfortable to wear for those with slight or serious bite irregularities. Custom mouth guards on the other hand provide much greater protection, though often come with a higher price tag.

The purpose of an athletic mouth guard is simple: protect teeth from impacts (incidental or otherwise) that may occur during the course of a game. An errant elbow, in even the friendliest of games, can quickly turn a fun afternoon into a serious event. Teeth are relatively resilient, though with enough force they can be knocked out.

The most important thing to remember about athletic mouth guards, and this holds true for any piece of protective equipment, is that it only works when used properly. Make sure to switch out an old beaten-up mouth guard with a new one whenever possible. Also, make sure to keep the mouth guard in for the entirety of a game – you can never be too careful.

If you have any other questions about sports dentistry or athletic mouth guards, feel free to give us a call. We will provide you with as much information as we can.