MOUTHGUARD OPTIONS

If you play social or professional contact sports, you have probably had more than your fair share of knocks. Have you thought about protecting your smile or does the range of mouthguard options confuse you? We are here to provide you with some useful options to ensure your smile is protected so you can continue to smile confidently on and off the field.

Mouthguards are protective because they act as a shock absorber, like a cushion, around your teeth and distribute traumatic forces whilst playing sport. Wearing a mouthguard helps to prevent or minimise the effect of dental injuries such as lacerations and fractured teeth.  The ideal mouthguard should be comfortable to wear, allow you to breathe normally and speak, be durable and easy to clean.

Mouthguard Options available include

1. Stock Mouthguards
   1. Are ready to wear and cost effective which is advantageous. However, they are bulky to wear and can be difficult to tolerate which affects breathing and speech. They are also the least effective at protecting your smile.
2. Boil and Bite Mouthguards
   1. Are readily available at most sporting stores and offer more protection than the stock mouthguards .They are called boil and bite as the inner aspect is made of thermoplastic material which is easily moldable around your teeth when heated in hot water to soften.
3. Custom Made Mouthguards
   1. Are customised and made especially for you by your dentist and their dental laboratory. An impression is taken of your upper and lower teeth to produce a model from which your mouthguard can be made. Due to the time and materials used to make your individualised mouthguard they are more expensive, however they provide the most effective way of protecting your smile. They are also comfortable to wear and long lasting.
   2. Customised mouthguards are made of 2 or 3 layers depending on the type of sport you play. An upper double laminated mouthguard is normally sufficient to cover most sports, however some high impact sports would benefit from both an upper and lower triple laminated mouthguard.
   3. We also know that form is just as important as function and so you also have the option of personalising your mouthguard with colours, your name and phone number just in case you lose it.

What if you have braces?

As your teeth are moving and aligning during orthodontic treatment your best option would be to use a boil and bite mouthguard which you can remould every time you use it. Avoid the moldable mouthguards with a hard outer shell as they adhere to the braces and can become stuck. Last winter we had to cut one of these mouthguards off our braces client, something best avoided. Once your braces are removed you can invest in a customisable mouthguard.

Price

The cost of a customisable sports mouthguard at Tooth Fairy Dental is normally $449. Simply phone us on 07 575 6278 to arrange an appointment with a dentist .