IMPORTANCE OF MOUTHGUARDS
Some of the most common injuries that athletes endure are to your mouth and jaw.
Mouth guards help protect your braces, teeth, lips and cheeks from injury. If you participate in basketball, boxing, hockey, football, lacrosse, racquetball, rugby, volleyball, wrestling or any other contact sport, our orthodontist and team recommend that you wear a mouth guard to help protect your teeth, smile and appliances.
TYPES OF MOUTH GUARDS
There are different types of mouth guards that you can choose at Doswell Orthodontics according to what is best for you:
- Custom-fit, remoldable mouth guards
SISU is a great mouth guard for braces, but must be fit by a dental professional. We carry SISU® mouth guards and can assist you in fitting the mouthguard properly with braces or Invisalign. When fitting SISU with braces, you need to cover the brackets with aluminum foil. Without a barrier over the brackets, the SISU will create a vacuum tight seal around the brackets and be hard to get off. SISU mouthguards tend to be less bulky, so you can talk more easily while wearing it.
- Pre-made or stock mouth guard
We carry Shock Doctor® mouth guards that are made specifically for athletes with braces to protect their braces, teeth, lips and cheeks from injuries. Shock Doctor mouth guards are made of 100% medical-grade silicone and adapt to changes in tooth position as braces are adjusted.
- Custom-made mouth guard from your orthodontist
We offer custom-made mouthguards, that are specially designed to provide optimal protection against mouth injuries. Our custom mouth guards offer the best protection for your teeth after treatment. We use your final scan at the end of treatment to custom-make your mouthguard to ensure optimal fit and protection.
- “Boil-and-Bite” fitted mouth guard
If you are in braces, you should not use a boil-and-bite mouthguard, because it will prevent the desired tooth movements. These are great options after orthodontic treatment is completed though.
MAINTAINING YOUR MOUTH GUARD
Similar to a retainer, it is important to take care of your mouth guard by keeping it clean and storing it properly in its case when you’re not using it. Dr. Katie Doswell recommends that you replace your mouth guard at the beginning of every new sports season. You should also replace your mouth guard if you notice it has become worn or no longer fits properly.
If you play a contact sport, be sure to ask us about our mouthguard options at your next appointment!