Why are mouthguards so important?

Why are mouthguards so important?

We are frequently asked if it is important to wear a mouthguard whilst playing sport. The simple answer to that question is- yes!  It is estimated from the American Dental Association that one third of all dental related injuries are sports related. Mouthguards are often mandatory in contact sports such as football, wrestling and rugby and should also be considered in other incidental sports such as basketball and netball.mouthguard

Mouthguards are typically soft plastics or laminates that prevent oral injuries to the teeth, mouth, cheeks, tongue and jaw.  They can ‘cushion’ a blow that may otherwise result in a broken jaw or tooth injury.

Another common question we are asked is what is the best type of mouthguard whilst you have braces. There are two main types of mouthguards on the market: boil-and-bite and custom made mouthguards by your dentist. Custom made mouthguards offer a premium fit, however can be quite costly whilst braces are on as the teeth are constantly moving causing constant issues with fit. For this reason, boil-and-bite mouthguards are often recommended during orthodontic treatment as they can be frequently remoulded to fit around a changing mouth.

It is vital to wear mouthguards if you have braces as they can prevent damage to the brackets and they provide a barrier between the braces at soft tissues, therefore reducing the risk of injury.

Written by Ashleigh Robinson

adults, braces, ceramic braces, mouthguard, murrumbeena, ortho, Orthodontics, Orthodontist, sportho, sports, sports guard, straight teeth
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