Use of Mouthguards

Prevention is an important aspect of dental care, particularly when it comes to injuries. A broken tooth could be expensive and difficult to repair as well as painful, and is often accompanied by damage to the mouth’s soft tissues. This year, from July 19-23, the federal government is recognizing National Youth Sports Week, so we thought this would be a good time to remind athletes of any age of the importance of wearing a mouthguard and how to determine which ones suit their needs.

 

Dental trauma is most likely to occur during contact sports, but it is a risk even during activities such as gymnastics and skating. Governing boards generally require that participants wear a mouthguard at least over their maxillary teeth, but injuries can also occur during amateur or casual play. Mouthguards come in three varieties: ready made, boil-and-bite, and customized, each offering an increasing level of protection. Ready made ones come in different sizes and customized ones are designed for one specific user, while boil-and-bite mouthguards are adjustable. The wearer boils them to soften them, and then puts them over their teeth and molds them with their fingers while they are cooling.

 

Boil-and-bite mouthguards are particularly popular among young athletes, whose teeth are still shifting. However, some additional oversight from a dentist may be necessary when fitting them over braces. Evidence shows that use of mouthguards reduces dental injuries by forty percent. Mouthguards and their containing cases need to be kept clean in accordance with their manufacturer’s instructions, and users should be careful to avoid leaving them in the sun or anywhere else extremely hot, or else their shape might be distorted the next time they are used. But overall, mouthguards are a simple way to protect your dental investment.

 

The dental office of Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 90035. To schedule an appointment, call 310-657-2200 or visit our website at Suzanne Haeri DDS.