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Each year, thousands of teens and young people get hurt on the sports field, the basketball court, or while skateboarding, biking, weightlifting. Blows to the face in nearly every sport can injure your teeth, lips, cheeks and tongue.
A properly fitted mouth guard, or mouth protector, is an important piece of athletic gear that can protect your teeth and smile. You may have seen them used in contact sports, such as football, boxing, ice hockey, lacrosse and women’s field hockey.
You don’t have to be on the football field however, to benefit from a mouth guard. New findings in sports dentistry show that even in non-contact sports, such as gymnastics, mouth guards help protect teeth. Many experts recommend that a mouth guard be worn for any recreational activity that poses a risk of injury to the mouth.
There are three types of mouth guards: the ready-made or stock mouth guard, the mouth-formed “boil and bite” mouth guard, and the custom mouth guard made by a dentist. All three mouth guards provide protection but vary in comfort and cost.
The most effective mouth guard should have several features. It should be resilient, tear-resistant and comfortable. It should fit properly, be durable and easy to clean, and not restrict your breathing or speech.
Generally, a mouth guard covers only the upper teeth but in some cases the dentist will instead make a mouth guard for the lower teeth. Your dentist can suggest the right mouth guard for you.
If you have a mouth guard, take good care of it. Before and after each use, rinse it with cold water and place it in a container with a commercial denture cleaning tablet and water solution to keep it clean and disinfected. The solution should be changed daily, even if the mouth guard is not worn that day. Avoid putting the mouth guard in areas of high temperatures, such as hot water, hot surfaces or direct sunlight, which can distort the mouth guard. Check it regularly for tears or worn areas and to see whether it has become loose. A mouth guard that is torn or in bad shape can irritate your mouth and reduce the amount of protection that it provides. When carrying the mouth guard in a gym bag or book bag, place it in a firm, perforated container to prevent damage.
Have regular dental checkups and bring your mouth guard along so that the dentist can check to make sure that it is still in good condition.
Don’t take your teeth for granted. Protect your smile with a properly fitted mouth guard.
Editor’s note: This article was submitted by the staff of the Smith Dental Clinic as part of Children’s Dental Health Month. For more information, contact Pat Wolf at 684-5516 or e-mail pat.wolf@cen.amedd.army .mil.
Each year, thousands of teens and young people get hurt on the sports field, the basketball court, or while skateboarding, biking, weightlifting. Blows to the face in nearly every sport can injure your teeth, lips, cheeks and tongue.
A properly fitted mouth guard, or mouth protector, is an important piece of athletic gear that can protect your teeth and smile. You may have seen them used in contact sports, such as football, boxing, ice hockey, lacrosse and women’s field hockey.
You don’t have to be on the football field however, to benefit from a mouth guard. New findings in sports dentistry show that even in non-contact sports, such as gymnastics, mouth guards help protect teeth. Many experts recommend that a mouth guard be worn for any recreational activity that poses a risk of injury to the mouth.
There are three types of mouth guards: the ready-made or stock mouth guard, the mouth-formed “boil and bite” mouth guard, and the custom mouth guard made by a dentist. All three mouth guards provide protection but vary in comfort and cost.
The most effective mouth guard should have several features. It should be resilient, tear-resistant and comfortable. It should fit properly, be durable and easy to clean, and not restrict your breathing or speech.
Generally, a mouth guard covers only the upper teeth but in some cases the dentist will instead make a mouth guard for the lower teeth. Your dentist can suggest the right mouth guard for you.
If you have a mouth guard, take good care of it. Before and after each use, rinse it with cold water and place it in a container with a commercial denture cleaning tablet and water solution to keep it clean and disinfected. The solution should be changed daily, even if the mouth guard is not worn that day. Avoid putting the mouth guard in areas of high temperatures, such as hot water, hot surfaces or direct sunlight, which can distort the mouth guard. Check it regularly for tears or worn areas and to see whether it has become loose. A mouth guard that is torn or in bad shape can irritate your mouth and reduce the amount of protection that it provides. When carrying the mouth guard in a gym bag or book bag, place it in a firm, perforated container to prevent damage.
Have regular dental checkups and bring your mouth guard along so that the dentist can check to make sure that it is still in good condition.
Don’t take your teeth for granted. Protect your smile with a properly fitted mouth guard.
Editor’s note: This article was submitted by the staff of the Smith Dental Clinic as part of Children’s Dental Health Month. For more information, contact Pat Wolf at 684-5516 or e-mail pat.wolf@cen.amedd.army .mil.
