March 28, 2024

Sport a healthy smile with a mouth guard

Smart athletes wear mouth guards to protect their smiles from serious injury. Mouth guards, also called mouth protectors, are particularly important for children engaged in active sports.

The Jasper County Dental Society recommends that if your children participate in sporting activities, they should wear a mouth guard. Some active sports include football, basketball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding and volleyball. However, there are many other sports that present a risk of injury to the head, face or mouth as a result of head-to-head contact, falls, tooth clenching or from impact with equipment. A well-constructed mouth guard used during any of these sports can help prevent injury to the mouth, teeth, lips, cheeks and tongue.

There are three types of mouth guards: ready-made or stock mouth guards; mouth-formed guards; and custom-made mouth guards. The three types differ in comfort, fit and cost. The most effective mouth guards are resilient, tear-resistant and thin enough for comfortable breathing and speaking.

Stock mouth guards and mouth-formed guards are available at sporting goods stores. A custom mouth guard made by the dentist is closely shaped to fit the player’s teeth for extra comfort.

No matter which type of mouth guard is worn, only the upper teeth should be covered for the following reasons:

• The upper front teeth usually overlap and therefore protect the  lower teeth.

• The front teeth are the most frequently injured.

• Covering the lower teeth may create additional bulk, diminishing  comfort and fit while providing little extra protection.

Some special circumstances, such as a protruding jaw or the presence of orthodontic appliances (braces) may require that the lower teeth also be covered. Your dentist can determine if such a condition might apply.

The Jasper County Dental Society cautions parents that orthodontic retainers should not be used when participating in contact sports.

Athletes of all ages have discovered that wearing a mouth guard during practice, a game or while simply skateboarding in the park makes good sense.

The Jasper County Dental Society invites you to visit the American Dental Association on the internet at www.ada.org