Mouth guard, an appliance made of plastic worn in any athletic activity for protecting teeth from injury and trauma. Usually, mouth guards cover the upper teeth, but in some cases like if you are wearing braces or other dental appliance, your dentist will make a mouth guard for your lower jaw as well.
In this article, we will discuss mouth guards.
Who requires mouth guard?
Mouth guards can be used by anyone – children or adults who play sports such as boxing, soccer, ice hockey, field hockey, etc. Even the people who are participating in recreational activities like mountain biking and skateboarding might pose a higher risk of injury to the mouth. So it is advisable to wear a protective mouth guard.
Types of mouth guards
- Stock mouth guard: These mouth guards come ready to wear and are inexpensive. They offer less protection as the adjustments are limited. As stock mouth guards are bulky, they may interfere with speech and breathing. Many dentists will not prefer advising the use of this kind of mouth guards.
- Boil and bite mouth protectors: These can offer a better fit than the stock mouth guard and is made from a thermoplastic material. Before placing it in the mouth, it is kept in hot water to soften.
- Custom fitted mouth guards: These are the best protectors as they are made by the dentists that offers best fit, protection and comfort level as these are made from a cast to fit your teeth. Due to the use of a special material, extra effort and time involved, this type of mouth guard is costlier than others.
Caring for a mouth guard
- Wash your mouth guard with warm water (not hot).
- Remember to soak your mouth guard in mouthwash before storing.
- Store your mouth guard in a well ventilated box so that it remains dry.
- As heat can damage your mouth guard, never store it in direct sunlight or in a car.
- When storing, don’t bend your mouth guard.
- Never wear others’ mouth guard.
- If there is any problem, call your dentist who had made the mouth guard.