If you have ever watched sports, specifically contact sports, you may notice that many of the people who are playing are wearing mouth guards. If you have seen this, thoughts may have gone through your head like “what are they wearing” or “they look so weird with that thing in their mouth”. These thoughts are fairly common, specifically among people who have never worn mouth guards. In fact, many people do not even know what a mouth guard is really for.
Mouth guards are great for people to wear when they are playing contact sports. Mouth guards will not only protect your teeth, but they can also help to protect your jaw. During contact sports it is possible that a lot of injury can happen to your teeth, gums, and jaw. A mouth guard will help to protect you from being more injured.
There are different types of mouth guards that you can get. If you go to a sports store, they will usually have some there that you can mold to fit your teeth. While these are better than nothing, it would be beneficial for you to have a mouth guard that was made by your dentist or orthodontist. It is important to remember that your mouth guard is meant to be thin, flexible, durable, and comfortable. The mouth guard should not restrict your breathing in any way.
If you do have a mouth guard, it is important that you take care of it, and keep it clean. After you use your mouth guard you should:
- gently scrub it with a toothbrush and toothpaste
- store your mouth guard in a protective case
- keep it out of the sun or hot water to prevent melting
- do not chew on it
- replace mouth guard if it does not fit properly
Wearing a mouth guard when you are playing contact sports can really help to prevent damage to your teeth and jaw. If you are looking to have a mouth guard made for you, call Dr. Jeffrey Hadley—your Las Vegas dentist—today.