These days, there are more ways to exercise than ever before. People have personal trainers, visit all-purpose gyms, take advantage of specialty facilities, and participate in recreational sports. At St. Mary’s Dental in Mechanicsville MD, we want to remind our patients that many of these activities pose a risk to teeth.
You may believe that mouthguards are only for boxers and pro football players. However, mouthguards can and should be used during any activity where impact to the face is possible.
This includes many common sports such as pick-up basketball games, volleyball, and bicycling. When you have a properly fitted mouth protector, you can prevent broken or lost teeth as well as lip, tongue, and jaw injuries.
Mouth protectors come in three main types: stock, boil and bite, and custom-fitted. Stock mouthguards are one-size-fits-all but rarely fit well.
You can find boil and bite mouth protectors at sporting goods stores. They are to be softened in water and then formed to your mouth. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions!
Custom-fitted mouth protectors can be made by your dentist to make sure you have a perfect fit. The soft tissues that line your cheeks and lips are especially susceptible to injury when you have braces or fixed bridge work.
Not to mention the damage that can be caused to the orthodontic appliances themselves. For these reasons, a mouth protector is extremely important for patients undergoing these treatments. Your orthodontist may even recommend a mouth protector for your lower teeth as well.
If you have questions about mouthguards, or any other general dentistry topics, talk to our team at St. Mary’s Dental in Mechanicsville MD. We specialize patient-centered care and people from North Waldorf, East Huntingtown, and South Laplata also come to us for restorative dentistry and dental implants. Request an appointment today!
Contact St. Mary’s Dental:
301-884-3248
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
28169 Old Village Rd
Mechanicsville, Maryland
20659
