Mouthguards: The Unsung Heroes Of Athletic Safety

Dental injuries can be easily prevented. Some experts may recommend that athletes wear mouthguards in rectreational and competitive sports where contact, impact, and collision are likely to occur.

The American Dental Association recommends people wear mouthguards for sports such as basketball, boxing, field hockey, handball, lacrosse, acrobats, gymnastics, ice hockey, martial arts, skateboarding, soccer, volleyball, weightlifting, water polo, skiing, wrestling, and so much more. Other experts include softball infielders and baseball on that list. They further recommend that mouthguards be worn when participating in practice and competition.

Read along to understand the importance of mouthguards and how to fit, clean, and care for your mouthguards.

The Importance of Mouthguards in Athletic Safety

As important as padding and helmets are when playing a sports activity, mouth protection is also essential for oral safety. While mouthguards might not be the first thing, people consider when participating in contact sports, they prevent you from losing or dislodging your tooth due to a sports injury. These injuries are easily preventable when you use a properly fitted mouthguard from Image Dental

When it comes o preserving an athlete’s teeth, mouthguards are one of the simplest and most effective solutions. They are easy to use, affordable, and can help prevent damage from participating in high-contact sports such as hockey and football.

Mouthguards are not only meant for sports where heavy contact is expected. However, they can also offer to cushion during low impact or light contact sports. This is important as slight pressure can irritate your mouth and cause small cuts or abrasions to your cheeks and gums.

In addition, sports-related injuries can not only result in scrapes or cuts along with the cheek tissue or gumline, but they can also lead to broken and displaced teeth and broken bones in your jaw. If your teeth or oral cavity are not properly protected, the impact on your mouth can be intense and increase the risk of a concussion. They can also be of potential damage and can have far-reaching effects.

How To Choose The Right Mouthguard

The challenge for most athletes is choosing the right mouthguard. As the market is filled with different types of mouthguards with varying prices. However, these tips will help you choose the right kind of mouth guards in Calgary. They include:

• Easy to clean. You should not have difficulty cleaning your mouthguards
• A mouth guard should be comfortable in your mouth and should not make you feel uneasy.
• Resilient and tear-resistant. A mouthguard should be able to withstand hard pressure. They should not break or tear-away under the slightest pressure.
• The mouthguard should be durable enough to last for longer periods
• Proper it. The right mouthguard should fit properly. You should play your game without worrying about your mouthguard falling out.
• A right mouthguard should not hinder breathing or speech. An ideal m mouthguard should give you enough breathing space because you will need to breathe through your playing. You should also be able to communicate easily, even when wearing your mouth guard.

Fitting a Mouthguard

Fitting a mouth guard is unique for the different types of mouth guards. The fitting is easier for the custom athletic mouth guard, which is custom-made for you when you visit your dentist. When you visit your SW Calgary dentist, they will take impressions of your teeth to make the mouth gaur. The impressions will then be sent to their laboratory. Once the mouthguards are ready, you will fit them on your teeth.

For the boil and bite type of mouthguards, you will need to heat them first, allow them to coll, and then place them on your mouth and bite it for them to fit well.

Cleaning And Caring For Your Mouthguard

The following  tips will guide you in cleaning and caring for your mouth guards:

• Brush with a toothbrush and toothpaste or rinse them after use
• Bring your mouthguard with you during check-ups for evaluation
• Regularly clean your mouthguard using cool soapy water and rinse it well
• Do not leave your mouthguard in hot water or sun.
• Check for any signs of wear and tear to determine if it needs to be replaced
• Transport and store your mouthguard in a sturdy container with vents so it can dry and prevent the growth of bacteria.