Mouthguards- A good investment for preventing dental injuries

 

Australia is a sports loving nation with both children and adults participating in a variety of sports each year.  Sport has so many health benefits especially for the physical and social development of children. With nearly 60%[1] of children being involved in regular physical activity at least once a week, it’s important for parents to have an understanding of how to avoid any dental injuries during sport with the best protective equipment. It can be very distressing if you are the parent of a child involved in a sporting incident that results in emergency medical or dental treatment.

Dental injuries resulting from sporting activities can be painful, expensive to treat or may require an ongoing dental treatment plan. Injuries can range from split lips, cracked or chipped teeth to more extensive injuries such as knocked out teeth and broken jaws.

Only a third of children aged 5-17 years wear a mouthguard([2]) while playing organised sports. A mouthguard will save teeth, protect jaws and is certainly the best investment for peace of mind.

What is a mouthguard?

A mouthguard is a protective, flexible shield worn in your mouth to prevent dental injuries during contact or collision sports and other activities that may cause impact to your face and mouth areas. The thickness of the mouthguard varies and is determined by the type of sport played and the level of physical contact that is expected.

What kind of mouthguards are available?

There are three kinds of mouthguards available to choose from;

Customised mouthguards are custom made to fit your teeth and mouth snugly They are made by your dentist who takes an impression of your teeth, to create a customized mould from which the mouth guard is made. As the mouth guard is customised to you, it’s thickness will be matched to the sport being played, whilst the colours can be chosen to match your team colours. Custom fitting allows your dentist to accurately assess your mouth and provide you with the most comfortable and best fitting mouthguard that will not fall out during impact. A customized mouthguard is the best option to prevent expensive dental injuries as a result of not wearing or wearing a poorly fitting mouthguard.([3])

Stock mouthguards are available for purchase from a sports store or chemist. They are a ‘one size fits all’ device and so does not snugly fit to the shape of your mouth, may be loose or uncomfortable to wear during sports and has the risk of falling out during an impact.

Boil and Bite mouthguards are also available over the counter at a sports store or chemist. These are ‘self-fitted’ by heating the mouthguard in hot water to soften and then biting into the mouthguard so it takes the shape of the mouth and teeth. They fit a little better than the stock mouthguards but are not a tight fit. They also have the same disadvantages as the stock mouthguards.

Caring for your mouthguard

It is important to look after your mouthguard keeping it clean from use to use. After using your mouthguard, rinse it with soap and warm water and allow to air-dry. Occasionally use a denture cleaning solution or Miltons solution to disinfect it and store in a container with good ventilation to prevent bacteria growth.

What else can a mouthguard assist with?

In addition to protection from sports injuries, mouthguards can also assist with teeth grinding and snoring. In consultation with a medical practioner or dentist, a diagnosis of teeth grinding or sleep apnea could result in a having to wear a special type of mouthguard to assist with the treatment of this diagnosis.

Book in today for a customised mouthguard fitting

[1] AusPlay Data – https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/knowledge_base/sport_participation/community_participation/sport_participation_in_australia

[2] The Importance of a mouthguard when playing sport- https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/importance-mouthguard-playing-sport/

[3] The Importance of a mouthguard when playing sport- https://www.ada.org.au/Your-Dental-Health/Teens-12-17/Mouthguards