Five Important Benefits of Sports Mouthguard
Physical activities combined with sports events contribute both enjoyment, exercise, and competitive challenges to our lives yet introduce risks, namely dental and jaw injuries.
The most successful approach to safeguarding your dental health includes wearing a sports mouthguard.
The preventive function of a mouthguard fits all athletes regardless of experience level to minimise harmful oral trauma.
Here are five essential benefits of wearing a sports mouthguard:
#1. Prevents Tooth Loss and Fractures
A sudden face or mouth impact during sports activities creates a real threat of severe dental injuries. Your teeth and jaw find protection through a mouthguard, which absorbs impacts, thus preventing dental injuries like tooth fractures and knockouts.
Without this protection, a direct hit could result in extensive dental procedures to replace lost teeth, such as implants, bridges, or dentures.
Wearing a sports mouthguard adds an essential defence against costly and painful dental emergencies.
#2. Reduces the Risk of Jaw Injuries
A strong impact to the face forces the lower jaw into contact with the upper jaw, leading to severe jaw fractures and joint injuries. Supplementary jaw break-ups and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) traumas are possible from impact events, thus triggering persistent issues ranging from speaking and chewing troubles to jaw discomfort.
Mouthguards minimise forceful impacts through their proper design structures, decreasing the severity of severe tissue damage. Proper mouth protection becomes essential for football, basketball, boxing, and hockey players since these sports consistently result in jaw-related injuries.
#3. Helps Prevent Concussions and Head Trauma
Studies indicate that mouthguards possess the additional ability to lower concussion dangers during gameplay. The impact force from a decisive jaw blow passes through the skull on its way to potentially damage the brain.
A mouthguard helps in absorbing shock and minimising the transmission of force, potentially lowering the risk of concussions and other head injuries.
Although no mouthguard can completely prevent concussions, it serves as an added layer of protection that could lessen the severity of impact-related injuries.
#4. Shields Soft Tissues from Injuries
Your lips, cheeks, and tongue are at high risk for sports-related injuries, particularly when you wear braces or have pointed dental edges. A direct impact in the mouth leads to painful cuts and bruises, creating the risk of deep lacerations that may require medical stitches.
Soft tissue protection occurs through the protective surface created by mouthguards. This greatly reduces the risk of painful injuries and ensures that your oral cavity remains protected during intense gameplay.
#5. Essential Protection for Orthodontic Patients
Wearing a sports mouthguard is even more critical if you have braces or other orthodontic appliances. The brackets and wires that makeup braces physically damage your lips and gums whenever they make contact.
Additionally, any damage to your braces can prolong treatment time and require costly repairs.
Sports mouthguards designed for orthodontic patients incorporate structures that adjust to fit braces when worn during athletic activities. Investing in the correct type of mouthguard helps maintain dental health and orthodontic progress.
Why Choosing the Right Mouthguard Matters
Not all mouthguards are created equal. There are three main types:
- Stock Mouthguards possess prefabricated shapes that users can wear immediately, yet they do not fit properly and lack adequate safety and security.
- Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards – Unlike stock mouthguards, these are shaped to fit your teeth after being softened in hot water.
- Custom-Fitted Mouthguards – A custom-fitted mouthguard provides a secure and comfortable fit, offering better protection than over-the-counter options. Your Northmead dentist designs each one to suit your needs, ensuring durability and ease of use.
A customised mouthguard provides the best protection because it fits specific teeth positions to guarantee optimal comfort.
Protect Your Smile with a Sports Mouthguard in Northmead
The safety of your teeth and dental health depends heavily on the high-quality mouthguard you choose before playing sports, regardless of the sport’s physicality level.
For professional advice on choosing the best sports mouthguard, visit My Local Dentists.
Our experienced dental team can fit you with a mouthguard that ensures maximum protection and comfort.
Book online or call Northmead dentist on (02) 9630 9996.
Visit us at 19/5-7 Kleins Rd in Northmead.