Mouth Guards for Sports

Mouth guards are used to protect the teeth lips and gums. They are used in sports where you may experience falls, body contact and flying equipment.

We only get one set of adult teeth. You should do everything you can to protect yours or that of your child.

Mouth guards are part of the typical equipment for football in America. In a sport that requires so much physical contact, there are actually less mouth injuries than in any other because mouth guards are part of the game gear.

The cost of care for missing teeth can reach into the thousands over a life time. The ADA estimates that mouth guards prevent 200,000 injuries/yr. in both high school and college football. This does not even take into consideration the many football leagues being played such as pop warner.

Mouth guards come in many forms. How do you know which is right for you? Here is some information on different types of mouth guards so you can decide which one is the best fit.

The Stock Mouth Guard

The stock mouth guard is the cheapest type of mouth guard on the market. It is also the least effective. This is because it is basically a one size fits all mouth guard. You will find this type of mouth guard sold over the counter at popular sporting goods stores.

The Boil and Bite Mouth Guard

This type of mouth guard can also be found in popular sporting goods stores but is a little more effective than a stock guard is. This is because you can form it to fit your mouth by dipping it in boiling water, and then biting down. The warm mouth guard can then form to fit your teeth. This is a better option, but still not the most effective.

The Custom Made Mouth Guard

A custom made mouth guard can only come from a dentist’s prescription and is the most effective of all the available mouth guards. Your custom made mouth guard will perfectly fit your mouth and can even be altered for the particular sport you play. This is by far the best option. And because of the high quality, you won’t have to replace it every year as you will a stock mouth guard.

A mouth guard should be considered for any sport that could cause cut lips or broken and lost teeth.