Our O’Fallon family dentists provide the treatments that children need to maintain healthy teeth and develop strong smiles into adulthood. One thing that we emphasize, and that many people don’t consider, is the importance of wearing protective mouthguards when engaging in contact sports and extreme sports. Today we are giving you some more information on why mouthguards are important and how they work.
Here are some situations in which you may want you or your child to wear a mouthguard:
- Playing sports like football, hockey, basketball, etc.
- Engaging in activities in which you may experience accidents—like skating and skateboarding
- Participating in extreme outdoor activities such as skydiving, rock climbing, surfing, and skiing
The best option for your smile is to have a customized mouth guard fitted for your smile, specifically. There are a number of types of mouthguards available over the counter, but these will not provide the same level of fit and protection that a customized mouthpiece will. Plus, some people struggle with discomfort and dental shifting due to one-size-fits-all mouth guards.
The process of creating one of these mouthguards is quick and simple. Our team will take an impression of your existing smile. Then, we use this impression to mold a soft plastic mouth guard that will fit snugly over your teeth.
It is so much easier—and more comfortable, and more affordable—to wear a mouthpiece as recommended, instead of trying to fix dental damage after the fact.
Our O’Fallon dentists can answer any additional questions that you may have, and help you make excellent dentistry decisions! We look forward to speaking with you!