If you or a loved one has ever been involved in playing contact sports, you know how important sports mouth guards are as part of the entire uniform. However, many athletes today still suffer from dental trauma by wearing mouthguards that don’t fit correctly or have become worn over time. For that reason, we will discuss four facts about sports mouth guards that you should keep in mind.
1. Sports Mouth Guards Protect Your Teeth
Playing contact sports such as hockey and football can put you or your child at a very high risk for dental damage. Mouth guards form a protective layer over your teeth while playing sports. That way, and the case that your teeth are met with a hard athletic device, your teeth will still be attacked.
2. You Only Need a Mouth Guard for the Top Teeth
If you or your child has to wear a mouthguard for the first time, you may be surprised to know that you only need a mouthguard for the top set of teeth. The only exception to this rule is if you wear braces or other fixed dental appliances located on your lower teeth.
3. You Need to Replace Mouth Guards Every 6 Months
This is extremely important as your mouthguard will begin to wear down over time. Once worn, the material is no longer thick enough to be protective.
4. Mouth Guards Need to be Washed After Every Use
Something to keep in mind is that bacteria loves to grow and thrive in your mouth guard. Cleaning it after each and every use is imperative to ensure that your mouth guard continually keeps your mouth safe, in and out of the game.
If you still find that you have questions about mouth guards and would like to talk face-to-face with a dental professional, let us at Family Care Dental help you all out! Our office in Mesa, AZ prides itself in being able to help people of all kinds get the care they need in a timely manner. If you would like to set up a consultation appointment, please do so by giving our office a call as soon as possible. We can’t wait to hear from you!