If you and your family play sports, April is the best time to remind you of National Facial Protection Awareness Month.
While wearing a helmet is part of the uniform for most sports, people often forget about mouthguards. Mouth protectors prevent thousands of facial injuries every year because they help cushion the blow.
What are Mouthguards?
Your Milton-Freewater family dentist explains that mouthguards protect the top arch of your teeth. Normally the back teeth don’t get the force that the front teeth do. Therefore, unless you wear braces or your dentist recommends a mouth protector for your bottom arch, you won’t need it.
4 Seasons Dental explains that there are three types of mouth protectors available for professional and recreational athletes.
- Stock
- Boil & Bite
- Custom Made
While all three of these mouthguards provide the wearer with protection, they are definitely not all the same standard.
- Stock-Available at most sports and department stores with a sporting goods department, stock mouth protectors are made to fit everyone. This means most people don’t find stock mouthguards very comfortable.
- Boil & Bite-These types of mouthguards are the most common and work after you boil them in water and bite on them for fit. These are also available at sporting goods stores and at your local pharmacy. Again, they are not the most comfortable option.
- Custom Made-By far the most comfortable of the lot; custom-made mouthguards from your dentist in Milton-Freewater are made to fit you and only you. Because you can breathe and talk with a custom-made mouth protector, you will actually wear it.
Like the Rest of your Uniform
Mouthguards should be treated like the rest of your uniform. If you ride mountain bikes, you naturally include knee and elbow pads and a helmet.
Adding a custom-made mouth protector to the mix will give you the advantage, especially if you should come face to face with a boulder after a fall.
Mouthguards for Most Sports
While some people wouldn’t consider wearing a mouth protector during a game of tennis, it isn’t a bad idea. Flying racquets and tennis balls have been known to cause injuries.
People who skateboard, participate in martial arts and those who enjoy surfing could all use custom-made mouthguards.
Regardless of the sport you play, whether it is contact or not, keeping your head and mouth safe from a blow to the head or a piece of equipment is much less expensive than a trip to the hospital.
Custom Made Mouthguards in Milton-Freewater
This spring schedule appointments for custom-made mouthguards for your entire family. You’ll be glad you did.
