A custom sports mouth guard is a soft protective device covering the teeth that acts as a shock absorber during sport activities. A correctly fitted mouth guard may reduce injuries to the teeth, lips, jaw, cheeks and the mouth.
Playing sport is a great way to stay fit, improve coordination and socialise with others. Every year, many people who don’t wear a mouth guard– young, and old, see the dentist because of tooth injury from sports activities.
Damage to the mouth can range from minor to severe. The most common are tooth injuries such as fractures, chipping and damage to the nerve of the teeth, but also cuts to the lips and cheeks. Such injuries are often very painful and expensive to treat. Many injuries can easily be prevented by using a customised mouth guard. This is why we recommend sports participants get a custom mouth guard fitted professionally. As the old saying goes ‘an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure’.
Which sports are high-risk?
High injury risk sports include:
- football
- rugby
- hockey
- cricket
- martial arts
- trail bike riding
We recommend a custom-made mouth guard issued by a dentist. They are simple to use, easy to speak with and don’t obstruct breathing.
What to expect when getting a mouth guard
The dentist will take an impression of your mouth to make the mouth guard. Once made (allow 2-3 weeks), our staff will show you how to use and properly clean and care for your new mouth guard. Mouth guards will show signs of wear over time and will need replacing.
