Players in a wide variety of contact sports are required to wear mouth guards in order to participate. Such sports include boxing, football, ice hockey, field hockey and lacrosse. Mouth guards protect players from such injuries to the mouth and face as broken jaws and broken teeth. A mouth guard can help an athlete avoid getting a concussion during a collision. A player should change his mouth guard often to ensure it is in condition shape to help prevent injuries.
Care
Mouth guards are made from a malleable acrylic or rubber so they can be custom-fitted to your mouth. This also makes them susceptible to heat, so keep your mouth guard in a cool place rather than in a hot car or out in the sun where the heat may cause the mouth guard to melt or deform. If your mouth guard deforms, replace it as soon as possible. Rinse your mouth guard after each game to get rid of any bacteria. Keep it clean by brushing it with toothpaste and a toothbrush to remove any bacterial build-up, which may cause the rubber to degrade. Taking good care of your mouth guard will allow you to change it less frequently.
Fit
A mouth guard should fit snugly against your teeth and allow you to comfortably breathe and talk. Custom-made mouth guards last the longest, according to Dentist Dan Peterson of Family Gentle Dental Care in Gering, Neb. Although the boil-and-bite mouth guards and pre-molded mouth guards do not last as long. Players should replace a mouth guard when it starts to feel loose and does not fit as snugly against the teeth. This may happen after a growth spurt, extended wear time or after experiencing a change within the mouth such as a loss of a tooth or removal of braces. Dr. Peterson suggests replacing mouth guards for youth players every year because children grow so rapidly.
Wear
Mouth guards need to be replaced when they are worn out. Due to players putting the mouth guards in and taking them out of their mouths repeatedly, the mouth guards will get looser over time. Average use also causes the material to thin out where the upper and lower teeth meet, which can lead to holes in the mouth guard. Players who chew on their mouth guards while waiting to play will need to replace them more often, as they will alter the shape and possibly create holes in the mouth guard. Players should replace their mouth guards at the first signs of overuse or extreme wear.
Tips
Keep a spare mouth guard in a case with your equipment for when you need it. Mold your backup mouth guard in the same way as your primary one so you don't have to adjust to it during the game. This will save you time if you develop a hole or other deformation in your mouth guard during a game and need to replace it immediately. Check your mouth guard every three months for holes, fit or other signs of degradation. If you notice any of these, it is time to replace your mouth guard.
References
- Family Gentle Dental Care: Mouthguards
- Colorado Avalanche; Mouthguard Primer: 25 Tips!; Kelly Anton
- "Journal of Athletic Training"; A Preliminary Report of Structural Changes to Mouthguards During 1 Season of High School Football; G.D. Rossi et. al.; January-March 2007
- Pro Hockey Stuff: Hockey Mouthguards
