Mouth Guards

Mouth guards are special covering which you wear over your teeth. Their main uses are to protect the mouth from injury, from teeth grinding and from trauma during sports. There's three main sorts of mouth guard;

Regular Mouth Protector

These mouth guards aren't custom made to fit your mouth and so come in a one-size-fits-all format. These aren't very expensive and can be purchased at most shops which sell sporting goods. The main drawback of the regular mouthguard is that not a lot can be done to change their fit. Regular mouthguards are often bulky and can cause difficulties with breathing and talking. This type of mouth guard affords little protection and most dentists would advise against using this sort of mouth guard.

Boil and bite mouth guards

This type of mouth guard is also available at retailers of sporting goods and tends to offer a much better fit than its regular counterparts. The mouth guard itself is made from a plastic material which becomes malleable when heated. After heating the mouth guard in hot water you simply place it in your mouth and it will have softened sufficiently to adopt the shape and contours of your mouth.

Custom-fitted mouth guards

As the name suggested these mouth guards are each individually designed to your exact specifications. They're usually designed and made in a professional laboratory or a dental office. Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth and will then mould a mouth guard over the model with a special dental material. This type of mouth guard is the most expensive due to the special materials and the extra time and work involved. Although the most expensive, custom mouth guards will usually provide the best fit and great comfort for the user.

Most mouthguards cover your upper teeth, but it's possible to make a mouth guard for your lower teeth also. The best kinds of mouth guard should be comfortable, durable, easy to clean and shouldn't cause you any problems with breathing or speaking. For people with Bruxism (grinding of teeth) there's special mouth guards which can be used to protect against damage and wear from teeth grinding at night.

What are they for?

As accidents can occur when performing any physical activity dentist recommend mouth guards to help minimise the risk of injuries to your mouth, gums and soft tissues. They can also protect against chipping or breaking your teeth and even tooth loss. Dentists recommend a mouth guard for anyone who plays contact sports like football, boxing, ice hockey or lacrosse. Mouth guards can also be of benefit even to people who aren't taking part in a contact sport. For example when taking part in gymnastics or any other recreational activities like skateboarding, mountain biking or any activity which could have a risk of mouth injury, mouth guards are recommended. If you have bruxism and grind your teeth at night then a nocturnal bite plate can be specially made to help protect your teeth against wearing and damage.

Mouth guards and braces

Because any injury to the face or mouth could potentially harm your orthodontic equipment, it's important to have a mouth guard even with braces. Your dentist should be able to recommend a mouth guard which will work well with your orthodontic equipment. It's also important not to wear any retainers or other types of removable orthodontic equipment if you're playing contact sports or any other activities which could potentially put your mouth at risk.

Caring for your mouth guard

It's important to rinse your mouth guard with cold water before and after you use it. Similarly, you'll need to regularly clean your mouthguard in cool, soapy water and give it a thorough rinsing. To help protect against damage make sure to store your mouth guard in a sturdy, perforated case which will allow proper air circulation. Make sure you don't expose your mouth guard to high temperatures such as direct sunlight, hot water or hot surfaces as these may distort its shape. To keep your mouth guard in the best shape, give it a regular check for wear and tear and bring it with you when you go for dental checkups so your dentist can examine it.