28 Feb

City of London Dentist Explains Mouth Guards

A mouth guard is a device which covers and protects the teeth and gums. Mouth guards have many uses in the field of oral health – they can be used to treat both bruxism (grinding of the teeth) and TMJ disorders. However, their primary application is almost certainly as protective equipment to be used in sports and other high-impact activities.
It’s very important in high-impact sports to protect your teeth, as the damage done can often be painful and irreparable. It’s estimated that mouth guards prevent over 200,000 mouth injuries a year solely among football players.
Before you buy a mouth guard, however, you may want to have a think about what kind of mouth guard to get. You can buy basic guards over-the-counter in most sports shops, though these are less effective than more specialized kinds.
The most effective mouth guard to get is one fitted by your dentist. Your dentist can create a custom-fit mouth guard sculpted to the shape of your gums and teeth – this will not only afford you better protection, but it will be more comfortable to wear.
If you don’t want to have a custom-fit mouth guard prepared, you might want to consider trying a ‘boil-and-bite’ mouth guard. These can be bought in shops, but rather than basic mouth guards, they still attempt to mould themselves around the shape of your mouth. By biting into the mouth guard after it has boiled, it adjusts its structure to suit you.
Depending on your budget and need, you might consider any of these options. While custom-fit mouth guards are unanimously seen as more effective, they might seem unnecessary for your purposes. If you want further advice and suggestions, visit your City of London dentist.