Everything You Should Know about Sports Guards
You may worry about potentially losing a permanent tooth. However, imagine how significantly more traumatic it would be for you to lose more than one tooth because of an accident or injury. While the probability of accidents may not be high for you, they are higher for people who participate in sports. Any kind of sports can put you at high risk for dental trauma, but high-contact sports are even riskier.
If you are just beginning your sporting career or participate in high-contact sporting activities, visit us at Beautiful South Shore Smiles to get custom fitted sports guards.
What Are Sports Guards?
They are plastic devices that fit over the teeth like a dental tray, used in dentistry to protect teeth and jaws from impact. These mouth protectors act as impact barriers from external pressure on the face area around the mouth. Sports guards are offered particularly for athletes who have made careers in high-risk sports.
At any point in their career, athletes can suffer dental trauma and injuries. A sports mouth guard is a shield that they should use proactively to preserve and protect their teeth, jaw, and gums.
Exploring More About Sports Guards
The purpose of mouth protectors for athletes is to create an impact barrier for the teeth and jawbone. It works by redistributing the pressure from the impact evenly to reduce the effects it has on your mouth. The sports guard will also combat the pressure exerted between your upper and lower jaw during an accident or injury. This impact can be from different sources, including a blow, an elbow, a ball, a stick, or a bat. With a mouthguard in place, you will have a shock absorber that will reduce the effects of impact on your mouth.
Mouthguards will not protect you from feeling pain. After injury, you may still be sore around the impact. The benefit is your teeth and jawbone will be protected from breaking, fracturing, or falling off.
Why Are Sports Dental Guards Important?
To deeper appreciate the benefits of sports guards, you need to learn about the kind of damage you can avoid when you wear mouth protectors. Though mouthguards are not mandatory for all sports, wearing them will reduce your risk for some dental issues like:
- Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth
- Partially dislodged or fully knocked out teeth – especially the front teeth
- Root and nerve damage to teeth
- Cuts and bruising on your cheeks, gums, tongue, and lips
- Fractured cosmetic devices – for example, dental crowns, tooth fillings, veneers, and dental bridges
- Fractured jaw
Do You Need Sports Guards?
As suggested by their name, these mouth protectors are very common among athletes. It is how they proactively care for their dental health, whether or not an injury occurs. If you are involved in any sporting activities, these mouthguards are beneficial. This includes athletes in boxing, martial arts, volleyball, wrestling, football and baseball. High-contact sports put you at a higher risk of dental injuries than other sports.
Even if you do not have a career as an athlete, you can still benefit from sports guard. Non-contact sports and recreational activities are also encouraged to use a sports guard for mouth protection. Whether you are skateboarding, horseback riding, or participating in gymnastics, you can protect your teeth in case of any dental injuries or accidents.
Where to Get Sports Guards
Mouth protectors are not hard to acquire. Many people get them over the counter. However, if you are looking to protect your mouth from external impact using a customized mouthguard, talk to a dentist near you. Dental experts customize mouth guards for patients based on their dental layout, size of their mouth, as well as personal needs. This kind of mouthguard snugs perfectly to your teeth, offering the best possible protection. If you would like to get a custom sports guards today, reach out to us at Beautiful South Shore Smiles for an appointment.