Mouthguards

More than 5 million teeth are knocked out every year resulting in nearly $500 million spent on replacing these teeth each year. 13-39% of all dental injuries are sports related. Males are traumatised twice as often as females with the maxillary central incisors being the most commonly injured tooth.

The more active you are, the more you need to wear them.
Anyone including children and adults who are physically active and play contact sport should wear one!

Facts about traumatic tooth injuries.

1. Half of all children will suffer a traumatic injury to a tooth by the time they graduate high school. Injuries range from minor chips and cracks to teeth knocked out of the socket.
2. Sports activities cause the greatest percentage of traumatic injuries.
3. Males have traditionally suffered traumatic tooth injuries two to three times more often than females, but this is changing.
4. A tooth that is avulsed can be re-implanted, treated with a root canal procedure and last for many years if the tooth is kept moist in milk or liquid and treated quickly.
5. Half of all avulsed teeth that are re-implanted last 20 years.
6. The number of traumatic tooth injuries could be decreased if more children wore custom fitted mouthguards during sports activities.

What is a Mouthguard?

A mouthguard is a flexible appliance made out o plastic that is worn in athletic and recreational activities to protect teeth from trauma.

Why should I wear a Mouthguard?

To protect your mouth form the injuries listed below. The dental profession unanimously supports the use of mouthguards in a variet of sports activities.

Custom made mouthguards are better than store-bought because they conform to your acutal bite, fit properly, and are made of more durable material.

What kind of injuries can a mouthguard prevent?

Mouthguards can prevent serious injuries such as:

1. Lacerations to lip,cheek and chin.
2. Fractures of the facial bones especially the cheek bones and mandible which can cause facial deformity.
3. Possible permanent injury to the jaw joints.
4. Broken teeth.
5. Tooth knocked out or displaced form its socket.
6. Concussions.
7. Cerebral hemorrhages.
8. Incidents of unconsciousness.
9. Neck injuries by helping to avoid situations where the lower jaw gets jammed into the upper jaw.
10. Preventing laceration and bruising of the lips and cheeks, especially for those who wear othodontic appliances.

Young children, in particular, often sustain damaged or dislodged teeth, fractured jaws and lacerated lips when participating in sports.

In what types of sports should I wear a mouthguard?

Anytime there is a strong chance for contact with other participants or hard surfaces, it is advisable to wear a mouthguard.

• Basketball
• Football
• Soccer
• Hockey
• Rugby
• Martial Arts
• Recreational Sports

Why don't kids wear mouthguards?

1. Parents are sometimes uninformed about the level of contact and potential for serious dental injuries involved with sports in which the child participates.
2. Schools don't reinforce the health advantage of mouthguards for their contact sports.
3. Cost may be another consideration although mouthguards come in a variety of price ranges.
4. Perception that females are less aggressive and less at risk of injury.
5. Coaches unaware of the importance of use of mouthguards.

What are the different types of mouthguards?

The ideal mouthguard:

• Protects teeth, soft tissue, bone structure, and TM joints.
• Diminishes incidence of concussions and neck injuries.
• High power absorption and power distribution throughout expansion.
• High degree of comfort and fit to maxillary arch.
• Remains securely and safely in place during action.
• Allow speaking and does not limit breathing.
• Is durable,resilient, tear resistant, odorless and tasteless.

Stock Mouthguard: The lowest cost option is a stock item, which offers the least protection. A stock mouthguard is not considered acceptable as a facial protective device.

• Advantage: inexpensive
• Disadvantages: Limited sized
  • limited sizes
  • do not fit well
  • inhibit speech
  • inhibit breathing
  • requires the jaws to be closed to hold the guard in place
  • uncomfortable causing players not to wear them
  • no fit adjustment.

Mouth-formed protectors: These mouthguards come as a shell-liner and "boil-and bite" product. The shell is lined with acrylic or rubber. When placed in an athlete's mouth, the protector's lining material molds to the teeth and is allowed to set.

The lining of the "boil-and -bite" mouthguard is immersed in boiling water for 10-45 seconds, transferred to cold water and then adapted to the teeth. The "boil-and-bit" mouthguard is used by more than 90 percent of athletes who use mouthguards.

• Advantages:
  • They are less expensive than custom-made guards
  • They give more protection than not wearing any kind of mouthguard at all.
• Disadvantage:
  • The fit is not as good.
  • They do not last as long
  • They become loose with wear.

Custom-made mouth protectors: The best choice is a mouthguard custom-made by us. It offers:

• Advantages:
  • best protection by reducing:
    • the chance of concussion and brain damage
    • the chance of cuts, bruises, and disfigurement to the mouth and face
    • the chance of jaw dislocation and jaw fracturing
    • the chance of teeth being lost or fractured
  • Most comfortable
  • custom fitted
  • enable you to be more competitive, because you can perform with confidence
  • Least likely to interfere with speech or breathing
• Disadvantage:
  • Expense-slightly more expensive than store bought guards.

How should I care for a mouthguard?

Clean your mouthguard by washing it with soap and warm (not hot) water.

How often should I replace my child's mouthguard?

Depending on the child's growth, mouthguards may need to be replaced once a year.