Spring Time is Sports Time!

With the first sign of spring also comes the first sign of spring sports! Spring is such a welcome change from the dreariness of wintertime. Everyone is tired of being inside and ready to shed their winter skin and their serious case of Cabin Fever and trade it all in for sunshine and some good exercise! Did you know, though, that this time of year often finds many children in the ER or dental office with broken teeth, jaw injuries and other sports related trauma? Collisions and trauma to the mouth and face are common occurances in many sports.  Knowing the risks of these types of injuries, you can greatly decrease the potential for injuries and the severity of these traumas with the use of a good mouthguard during sports activities.

An ideal mouthguard should provide maximum protection for the teeth, jaws, and surrounding structures.  It should be resilient and easily cleaned.  It should not restrict speech or breathing and needs to be comfortable with a good fit.  A good sports mouthguard can prevent or lessen tooth fracture and tooth, jaw, lip, tongue and facial injuries.  An athlete is 60 times more likely to suffer harm to their teeth when not wearing a mouthguard.  Mouthguards may also reduce the rate and severity of concussions.  Think of a mouthguard as an insurance policy against these sports related injuries.


There are three basic types of sports mouthguards availible and they come at different price levels. The first type is available at your local drugstore or sporting goods store and is a ready-made guard. These guards are not recommended because they provide very limited options in fit and offer very little injury protection.  These guards are usually uncomfortable and end up not being worn.  The second type are "boil-and bite" guards sold over-the-counter. These are made to make a more form-fitting mouthguard and should provide a better, more snug fit. However, the boil and bite guard also can have fit problems and although it offers better protection than the first type of guard and is certainly better than no guard, it is still lacking in the protection of the teeth and jaws.  The third type of guard is a custom fitted guard fabricated by your dentist.  This guard requires an impression of your upper teeth and is custom made for ideal fit and maximum protection.  As seen below, these guards have extensions that protect the teeth and supporting bone.  These type guards are the most expensive, but offer far superior fit, comfort, and durability when compared to the other types. 

Custom Sports Mouthguard

 With spring sports activities starting, I suggest you talk to your dentist about mouthguards for a safe, injury free season of fun!