Sports
Mouthguard is a removable oral appliance
that fits into the mouth and
typically covers the upper teeth to protect against injury during contact
sports.
Did you know that the most injured area of the body during contact sports is the mouth? A misdirected kick towards your face in a contact sport game can leave you with chipped or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth or even tooth loss as well as a damage of soft tissues, your tongue, lips and cheek lining. Dental injuries are painful, costly, and permanent. Therefore, any athlete, from Olympian to kids playing hockey on the street, should wear a mouthguard and a helmet or headgear. Mouthguard can cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth
There are three different types of Mouthguards available:
|
Type |
Description |
|
Custom-made
|
This is the best and the most effective mouthguard. This mouthguard provides the best fit, protection and comfort. It is most durable, can be modified for specific sports and needs and does not interfere with speech or breathing. |
|
“Boil-and-bite”
|
This type of mouthguard requires heating in warm water and then the user bites into the warm plastic. Because it is not vacuum-fitted onto a model of the patient's teeth, the fit is not as precise. The heating process will also reduce the longevity of the mouthguard. |
|
Stock or
ready-made
|
Made of rubber or polyvinyl, the ready-made mouthguard is a generic fit with limited comfort, protection and durability. It is often bulky and loose-fitting and may interfere with breathing and speech. |
Mouthguard Care and Cleaning Instructions
¨ Rinse your mouthguard under warm (not hot) water before and after each use and air-dry.
¨ Occasionally clean it with mild soap and warm (not hot) water or mouthwash.
¨ Before storing, soak your mouthguard in mouthwash.
¨ Store your mouthguard in a plastic container when not in use so it will not get damaged or lost
¨ Heat is bad for mouthguards, so don't leave it in direct sunlight or in a closed automobile.
¨ Wear your mouthguard properly. Do not cut or alter it and do not chew on it.
Where can I get a custom fit mouthguard?
You can acquire a custom made mouthguards from the dental office or clinic. We as Dental Hygienists will be happy to make you a custom-made mouthguard, which will fit your mouth exactly and protect your teeth and gums properly.
To set up an appointment simply call our Dental clinic on a number provided at bottom of this page.
What is the procedure?
It
takes two appointments and a period of time in between for mouthguard
fabrication for you to receive your new mouthguard and start to use it.
During your first
appointment, we will take impressions of your teeth. Using these, we will
create a model of your teeth and design a mouthguard that will be vacuum-fitted
over the model. During Your second appointment we will fit the mouthguard in
your mouth and after giving you the proper instructions you can start using the
mouthguard during the sport activities.
_________________________________________
Canadian College of Dental Health www.ccdh.ca
760 Brant Street, Burlington ON L7R 4B7
Student Dental Hygienist:
Boban Fidanoski
Program Coordinator: Lesley Knapp, RDH
Phone No. 905-333-1153 Toll free No. 1-877-278-8888
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