Sports Guards

CHOOSING A MOUTH PROTECTOR

There are three types of mouth protectors available:

   the ready made or stock mouth protector
   the mouth formed protector
   the custom made protector

Although all three types provide protection, they differ in comfort, fit and cost.

 

No matter which type of mouth guard is chosen, however, it is preferred that only the upper teeth be covered, for the following reasons; the upper teeth usually overlap and therefore protect the lower teeth; the front teeth are the most frequently injured and; 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, for example), may require that the lower teeth be covered too. Your dentist will be able to determine if such a condition might apply to you. The most effective mouth guards combine several features:

They should be resilient, light (thin enough for easy breathing), tear resistant, and comfortable. They should also be properly fitted (mouth formed and custom made protectors, for instance, are shaped to closely fit a player's own teeth). And they should be durable, easy to clean, and not difficult to speak with.

 

A strap is an optional item that can be fastened to almost any type of mouth protector. The strap allows the mouth guard to be removed or suspended from other face gear when the athlete is not in practice or in play. The strap also guards against loss. Its disadvantages are potential injury to the face, jaw or mouth if the strap is yanked, and added cost to the overall price of the mouth guard.

 

The ready-made, or stock, mouth protector is the most easily obtained and the least expensive. It is also the least satisfactory. You can find this type of mouth guard at most sporting goods and department stores. It comes in several shapes and commonly is constructed of rubber or a polyvinyl material.

 

However, because little can be done to adjust the fit of a stock mouth protector, it is often bulky and uncomfortable. It can interfere with breathing and speaking, and the jaws must be closed to hold it in place so we won't recommend them.

Here are some choices:

 

 1. THE MOUTH FORMED PROTECTOR

 

This type of mouth guard is best fitted by a dentist, who usually shapes a plasticized acrylic gel or thermoplastic material to conform to the contours of the athlete's teeth. There are two types. The first type is called a shell-liner mouth formed protector, because the acrylic gel is poured into a pre-made firm outer shell and forms a lining. Although secure and well fitted, this type has several disadvantages; oral fluids may cause the liner to become hard and this type of mouth guard is more complicated to make for athletes who wear braces.

 

The second type is a thermoplastic mouth formed protector. This type is the most easily formed, since it is usually softened by immersing in hot water. It is then shaped in the mouth to the teeth by using finger, tongue, and sometimes biting pressure. If professionally fitted, it can be worn with orthodontic appliances. Often, it can be refitted if it becomes loose.

2. The Custom Mouth Guard

 

The custom made mouth protector is the most satisfactory of the three types, for, if properly made, it best provides all the qualities found in an ideal mouth protector. It is best constructed over a cast (model) made from a dentist's impression of the athlete's teeth. This mouth guard is then made by fabricating a resilient material over the model. Although custom made protectors are a bit more expensive than other types of mouth protectors, the exceptionally good fit and comfort the overall quality that results in a well fitting guard is worthwhile. In addition, the custom made protector is easily retained in the mouth and does not interfere with speech or breathing.

Caring for your mouth protector

Like any other sports gear, mouth protectors can wear out, become lost or deteriorate over time. There are several precautions you can take however, to make your mouth guard last a long time.

 

Before inserting the mouth protector for the first time each day, you can increase its comfort by rinsing the protector with cold water or with mouth rinse.

 

After each use, rinse the mouth protector under cold tap water. Occasionally, it can be cleaned in cool, soapy water and then rinsed thoroughly, or a mouth guard disinfectant can be applied to it. The mouth guard should be placed in a firm, perforated container during storage or transport to permit air circulation and to avoid damage.

 

Check the condition of the mouth protector from time to time to see if it needs replacement. Tears, perforations, and loose linings can irritate the teeth and mouth tissues; these conditions also diminish the amount of protection the mouth guard can provide on the playing field. Players who have infected teeth or mouth tissues should not wear a mouth protector until their oral condition has been treated and their health improves. All players should be sure to visit the dentist before each playing season to have their oral health checked and any problems corrected.