If you’re an adult who takes part in high impact physical activities, or a parent with a child that is involved in such activities, protecting your teeth is a priority. A custom- fitted sports mouthguard is the most effective way to prevent dental injuries. As your local Sheffield Dentist, our clinicians regularly treat patients with sports related dental injuries – many of which could have been avoided with the right protection. For the best protection for you and your family, we recommend custom fitted sports mouthguards to help avoid injury, and provide peace of mind whilst enjoying an active lifestyle.
Why are sports mouthguards important?
Sports mouthguards provide a protective barrier for the teeth, gums and jaw. They absorb and disperse the impact from blows or falls, and this allows them to reduce the chances of:
· Chipped or broken teeth
· Losing a tooth
· Jaw injuries
· Cuts to the lips and cheeks
· Damage to the tongue
Anyone taking part in contact or high-risk sports should strongly consider wearing a mouthguard.
Dental injuries can be painful and expensive. By investing in a high-quality sports mouthguard, you are protecting your smile and also ensuring you or your child can play without worrying. As a Sheffield Dentist, we always recommend preventative care, and support you to make the best decisions for your oral health. This includes recommending bespoke sports mouthguards for patients that would benefit from them.
Are there different types of mouthguards?
There are different types of sports mouthguards and these include: boil and bite mouthguards and custom fitted mouthguards. Boil and bite mouthguards are ones you can make at home. However, custom fitted mouthguards are recommended by our clinicians as your local Sheffield Dentist. This is because they are designed specifically for your mouth and so they offer a better fit, better protection and durability compared to the ones you make yourself at home.
When should mouthguards be worn?
Whenever there is a chance of contact to the face – whether its during matches, training sessions or even casual game in the park. This is because accidents can happen unexpectedly anytime.
It is also important to regularly check the mouthguards for children as their teeth and jaws are still developing. Poorly fitted sports mouthguards are less effective and cause discomfort. As your Sheffield Dentist we offer routine check-ups to make sure that your child’s mouthguard fits correctly and continues to protect their smile.
How to care for your sports mouthguards?
To make sure that your sports mouthguards stay clean and remain in good condition:
· Rinse it after each use with cool water
· Gently clean it with a tooth brush and mild soap
· Keep out of direct sunlight or hot environments
· Bring it with you to your regular dental check-ups, so that the dentist can assess it for signs of damage
Ready to book with you local Sheffield Dentist?
To have a sports mouthguard made by a clinician at our Sheffield Dentist, we will start by providing you a full oral health examination (commonly known as a check up) to discuss the most appropriate appliance for you and your circumstances. To book your appointment with us, you can call our friendly reception team on 01142661265, or by clicking the link below to book via our website today.
Further advice
For reliable and unbiased advice about dental treatments, as well as oral hygiene and healthcare advice, we recommend you visit the Oral Health Foundation’s website. It’s very important that you find dental and oral health advice from a reputable source. You can click the link below to read specifically about sports mouthguards.