Here at Sand Springs Family Dentistry, we believe in prevention of dental injuries. Dr. Whitney makes custom mouth guards for his patients, including our young athletes.
Protecting the mouths of our children has always been important. With more kids involved in sports, this is the perfect time to teach them good dental hygiene habits for the future. Whether your child is just starting to play football for the first time this year, or they have moved to a mature level of contact activities, the mouth guard will be one of the most important parts of their uniform.
Mouth Guards Help Protect Teeth
Wearing a mouth guard can help prevent an entire tooth from being knocked out, root and all. Because sports such as football and hockey are full contact, you should always work to protect the teeth from being knocked out. If they are knocked out, be sure you don’t touch the root and seek dental help immediately. You can simply rinse the tooth with water and place it back in the socket, or in between your cheek and gum to keep it safe for implanting again later.
Mouth Guards Help Prevent Fractures
In high contact sports, it’s not uncommon that a tooth is in danger of becoming broken or chipped. When you wear a mouth guard properly, the teeth are going to be much more supported and won’t be exposed when heavy contact occurs. It can be very expensive and sometimes not possible to save the chipped teeth, so take care in protecting them.
Mouth Guards Hold Everything in Place
A mouth guard works to keep your tongue, chin, teeth and gums safe and in place. When getting hit in the mouth, it provides a cushion that protects you from lacerations. It can also help to keep concussions to a minimum. When you get hit in the face or head, your jaw will be properly separated, so you’ll be better prepared and less likely to knock out your teeth when getting knocked around!
Mouth Guards Come in a Variety of Choices
You have a few options when selecting the right guard for you or your child’s mouth.
- The least expensive will be the stock mouth guard, however, it also offers the least amount of protection and can often be difficult to breathe and speak through.
- The mouth-formed guard is the second tier in the range of mouth guards offered. Having a dentist fit it will give you the best results. While they will last longer and offer more protection than the stock guard, they won’t be as effective as the custom-made mouth guards.
- The custom-made option will cost the most, but will also offer the best protection and ease of use. Your dentist will be able to guide you through the process of finding the best custom-made mouth guard for you or your child.
The American Dental Association recommends the use of custom mouth guards in 27 sports/exercise activities. Make sure you are properly suited up before playing sports to prevent oral injuries from happening.
