As our students start to head back to school and the fall season draws near, we are excited to cheer on our patients that play a sport! From hockey to basketball and everything in between, Dr. Cohen wants to remind everyone, especially our school-aged patients, that wearing a protective mouthguard when playing sports is very important.
Why A Mouthguard is Important
Everyone who plays sports is at risk for injury. In most sports, whether it’s practice or a game, physical contact is common, which can result in injury, including injuries to the face and mouth. Playing with a mouthguard over your teeth and braces will provide you with the protection you need against blows to the mouth from elbows, flying pucks, etc. A mouthguard can also provide the needed protection from blunt force trauma resulting from unexpected falls. In short, wearing a mouthguard will help:
Choosing a Mouthguard
The best mouthguard to use is one that’s comfortable to wear and designed to provide the highest level of protection against injury. You can find mouthguards that are made specifically for people wearing braces online and at some sporting goods stores. Brands to watch for include ShockDoctor, Gladiator and UnderArmour. Even though mouthguards for braces cost a bit more than others like the “boil and bite” mouthguards, the extra money spent is well worth it. Standard, off-the-shelf mouthguards like the “boil and bite” models simply fall short in terms of comfort and protection. We also offer custom-made mouthguards for patient wearing braces or clear aligners (such as Invisalign), as well as those not currently in orthodontic treatment.
A mouthguard made for people wearing braces is designed to fit snugly over the braces and teeth to protect the braces, teeth, and soft tissues of the mouth from harm. An orthodontic mouthguard is typically made from a durable, medical-grade silicone material that’s designed to make breathing easy while being comfortable to wear.
Everyone Should Protect Their Smile
Everyone should protect their smile when playing sports, regardless of if they are wearing braces or not. For those of you who aren’t wearing braces, you can easily find mouthguards for sale at most retail sports shops. You can also speak to us or your family dentist about having a mouthguard made just for you, using an impression of your teeth. This type of custom-made mouthguard is the best choice as it is guaranteed to fit snugly over your teeth and be comfortable to wear.
Contact Surrideo Orthodontics
If you have any questions about mouthguards or how to choose one, please feel free to contact us as we’re always here to help! We strongly encourage all our patients wearing braces to make sure they always wear a protective mouthguard when playing sports! Dr. Cohen and his team would like to wish all our student athletes the best of luck in the upcoming school year!
