Did you know that between 13-39% of all dental injuries are sports-related, resulting in 600,000 emergency room visits each year due to sports-related dental injuries? Or that athletes are 60 times more likely to suffer harm to their teeth if they're not wearing a mouthguard? Mouthguards are flexible dental appliances that can be worn to protect your teeth from clenching, grinding, and sports injuries. If they aren't already on the equipment list for you or your kids' sports, add it now!

Many sports such as hockey and basketball involve a high level of physical contact which can be dangerous to your teeth. For this reason, sports guards protect your teeth from trauma and prevent concussions, damaged teeth, and nerve damage. Sports guards protect hundreds of thousands of dental injuries yearly, and damaged teeth are the most expensive sports injury to fix.

In sports, whenever there is possible contact with competitors or immovable objects, we recommend the use of a sports mouthguard. Many schools and sports leagues require players to wear mouthguards during practice and competition, but they should be worn even when not mandatory. They are invaluable for the added protection that they provide. Parents should ensure that their children, who may not be aware of or fully understand the potential dangers of sports injuries, protect their winning smiles by using custom-fitted mouthguards.

Types of Mouthguards

Stock mouthguards, or over-the-counter (OTC) mouthguards, are the most common types of mouthguards that can be found at most drug stores as well as stores that sell sporting equipment. They usually cover only the top of your teeth and come in different sizes: small, medium, and large. Though this type of mouthguard is very easy to find, and cost-effective, please keep in mind that they might not offer the best fit for your teeth due to the limited and standardized sizes available.

Some drugstores sell boil-and-bite mouthguards, which require you to boil the mouthguard and then bite on it to create a slightly customized fit. While these are typically more comfortable, fitted, and protective than stock mouthguards, custom-made mouthguards from a dental office will offer the best protection.

Custom-fitted sports mouthguards are important because they protect important structures in your mouth much better than over-the-counter ones. Also, because OTC mouthguards are not custom-fitted, they can be more uncomfortable so you or your child may not want to use them.

When you get a mouthguard from our dental office, a mould of your teeth is made to create a customized mouthguard to accommodate the exact structure of your teeth and mouth. This type of mouthguard provides a personalized fit and is much more effective at preventing sports injuries.

Invest in a custom-fitted mouthguard and protect your teeth from sports-related injuries by contacting us today!