When you play any type of sport, there is always the risk of chipping, fracturing, or even knocking out a tooth. In order to maintain a whole and healthy smile, you should take steps to protect your smile. Should you wear a protective athletic mouthguard? Doing so can help safeguard your smile against common injuries.
Try Our Protective Athletic Mouthguard Quiz
- True or False: A damaged tooth can lead to complications.
- True or False: A custom guard provides better protection.
- True or False: Some mouthguards can be used to correct oral health issues.
- True or False: Multiple sports require them.
Answer Key
- True. Even a seemingly minor chip or fracture in a tooth can expose sensitive inner tooth structure to harmful bacteria. Soon a cavity can form and without treatment, the decay may progress into a serious dental infection. You may experience discomfort and eventually, a greater risk of losing the tooth.
- True. Using a guard, you provide greater protection for your teeth against injury. While a standard boil-and-bite option from a store helps, it doesn’t provide the same level of protection as one custom-made for your smile.
- True. They aren’t just limited to sports injury protection. We often use another form for correcting TMJ disorder and bruxism. These are nightguards, also known as oral appliances. When worn, they reposition the jaw to ease strain and stop TMJ symptoms. They also provide a barrier between upper and lower teeth, preventing further damage from teeth grinding.
- True. We don’t just recommend them for kids who pay football. A mouthguard can be necessary for wrestling, lacrosse, and basketball to avoid injuries to your smile. If you have any questions about our protective athletic mouthguards, then please contact our office today.
