Do You Need A Mouth Guard?
Do you and your kids like to stay active a lot? Are you or they involved in sports? If so, then this is probably the most important reason that a mouth guard is needed. When playing sports, dental injuries are a common occurrence and just as you would wear any other type of protective gear such as a helmet or shin guards, wearing a mouth guard is just as important in order to protect your teeth. Continue reading this post as we break down some frequently asked questions about mouth guards.
Why do you need a mouth guard?
By wearing a mouthguard not only are you protecting your teeth but you’re also protecting your jaw as certain sports can put you at a higher risk for mouth injuries. If you or your kids play football, basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, lacrosse or even wrestle then you definitely might want to consider investing in mouth guards.
Types of mouth guards:
You may think that sports guards, mouth guards and mouth protectors are different appliances for your teeth but they are just different names for the type of appliance that protects your teeth. The three different types of mouth guards are Custom-Made Mouth Guards, Boil and Bite Mouth Guards, and Stock Mouth Guards. (specific details about these three mouth guards in another post).
How to care for your mouth guards?
Taking care of your mouth guard is important so that you won’t damage your teeth and you keep your mouth guard in good condition. You want to make sure that you clean your mouth guard daily by scrubbing it gently with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Once you’re done cleaning it make sure to put it in a case and keep it away from hot things. Also, make sure that before you eat that you remove your mouthguards. If you feel that your mouth guards aren’t fitting your teeth properly then it would be best to replace them so they don’t come out and instead do the job of protecting your teeth.
As mentioned before, look out for another post on a detailed description of the types of mouth guards. Be sure to talk to your oral care provider about any questions or concerns you might have about mouthguards.