Wearing a mouth guard is a must if you participate in a sport. Mouth guards help protect your teeth, face, jaw and soft tissues of the mouth from injury. Choosing a mouth guard that fits well and stays in place during practice or a game will help you avoid broken teeth or cuts to your mouth.
Identification
Mouth guards are U-shaped pieces of gel, thermoplastic, polyvinyl or rubber that fit over your teeth. When mouth guards are in place, they help absorb the force of blows to the mouth, reducing jaw and mouth injuries. Mouth guards usually cover the upper set of teeth, but may also be used for the lower set of teeth if recommended by your dentist.
Types
Pre-formed mouth guards, available in sporting goods stores, are the least expensive type of mouthguards and can be worn straight from the package. Pre-formed mouth guards are constructed from polyvinyl or rubber. The California Dental Association does not recommend these mouth guards because they can't be molded to fit your teeth. If mouth guards don't fit well, you may be more likely to experience an injury, despite wearing the guard.
Sporting goods stores also sell moldable mouth guards. Placing moldable mouth guards in boiling water softens the gel or thermoplastic, allowing the material to mold to the shape of your teeth when you place the guard in your mouth for the first time. A brief cooling period after removing the mouth guard from the boiling water ensures that the guard is not too hot when you place it in your mouth. Custom mouth guards, available from dentists, provide the best fit, as these guards are made using a cast of your teeth. Although custom mouth guards are the most expensive option, they may provide more protection than store-bought types and are more comfortable.
Effectiveness
A systematic review of mouth guards published in the journal "Sports Medicine" found that the risk of an injury to the mouth or facial area was 1.6 to 1.9 times higher when a mouth guard was not worn. Effectiveness in preventing injuries depends on several factors, including the presence of any rough or pointed teeth that may lead to injuries, the cushioning properties of the mouth guard and whether a blow to the mouth is soft or hard.
Considerations
Some manufacturers may advertise that mouth guards are helpful in preventing concussions. Although wearing a mouth guard may help absorb the force of a blow to the jaw and help stabilize the head by strengthening and activating the neck muscles, Sports Dentistry Online reports that the claim of concussion prevention has not yet been supported in medical or dental literature.
