A mouthguard can protect you from some serious sporting injuries, such as broken jaws, fractured, cracked or knocked-out teeth, cut lips and tongues. If you play a contact sport, you are at risk of injuring your teeth and mouth.
Many sports have risk of contact and therefore serious dental injury, such as rugby, hockey, boxing, cricket, basketball, football, skateboarding and soccer. These sorts of injuries are often difficult to treat, and often involve a lifetime of expense which can lead to a lifetime of dental treatment.
How does a mouthguard work?
Sports mouthguards act to absorb and spread the impact of a knock to the face, which may otherwise result in an injury to the mouth or jaw/s.
Mouthguards should be worn during training and on game day.
Store-bought mouthguards
Mouthguards bought from chemists or sports stores include stock mouthguards and ‘boil-and-bite’ mouthguards.
Stock mouthguards are generic plastic mouthguards that are worn as they are and are not fitted to the shape of the individual wearer’s teeth and gums.
Store-bought mouthguard options often fit poorly and may remain loose in the mouth. They do not provide the same level of protection as a custom-made mouthguard and may interfere with talking or breathing.
Custom-made mouthguards
Custom-made mouthguards created by your dentist are the most protective for the teeth and mouth as they are specially designed to fit the exact contours of your mouth. They are comfortable to wear and allow you to breathe and speak easily compared to the store-bought options.
How to get a custom-made mouthguard
See your dentist for a custom-made mouthguard. It is best to have a check-up to ensure that no other dental treatment is required before a mouthguard is made.
To make the mouthguard, the dentist will take a mould of your teeth to create a mouthguard that fits precisely around your teeth and gums.
