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Staying active is one of the best ways to remain healthy and avoid unwanted excess fat. However, accidents can happen when you’re out and about. If one of your recent adventures led to an emergency visit to your local dentist, you’d know the importance of mouthguards.
A mouthguard is designed to protect your mouth from damage. Most of them are made from food-safe, hard plastic material that absorbs the force of any impact and keeps your teeth from chipping and breaking.
Why do people need to use a mouthguard? What are the available choices? Keep reading to find out.
Reasons to Wear Mouthguards
Mouthguards may be lightweight, but the impact they can have on your dental health can be massive. Here are a few reasons wearing mouthguards during exercise is a good idea.
Prevents Injuries
Wearing a mouthguard during contact sports can reduce your risk of injury by up to sixty times. While they may only be mandatory in organized contact sports such as boxing and football, where there is an inherently greater risk of injury, any athlete can benefit from a mouthguard’s protection.
Players on any team could make contact with one another. Balls and rackets could also cause injury if you fall, and hard equipment can produce serious dental injuries.
Keeps Teeth Intact
If you don’t wear a mouthguard when playing sports, it’s easy for your teeth to be knocked out of place. For instance, if you’re into boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts (MMA) workouts, an elbow or a fist could hit you in the mouth and force your teeth out of place.
A mouthguard can absorb the force of a blow before reaching them. This prevents your teeth from getting damaged.
Dental Insurance
Most dental insurance plans offer a maximum yearly benefit less than the average fee to treat an injury. This means that your dental insurance policy most likely won’t cover your treatment.
When you exercise and play sports without mouthguards, you better be prepared to pay thousands of dollars when you get a dental injury.
Adult Teeth Don’t Grow Back
Adult teeth are permanent. This means that when you accidentally knock them out, they are broken forever. Dental bonding and other treatments might help you replace your lost tooth, but it won’t be cheap.
Mouthguard Choices: Custom vs. Pre-Formed vs. Boil and Bite
There are many mouthguard models in the market today. In fact, custom-made ones are also available.
Custom Mouthguards
Custom mouthguards, also called moldable mouthguards, are dental protection devices specifically made for you. Your dentist gathers an impression of your teeth, makes a mold from it, and constructs a mouthguard with the lab’s help.
Pros:
- Fits perfectly
- More comfortable
Cons:
- Can be a bit pricey
- Relatively long waiting time before delivery
Pre-Formed Mouthguards
Pre-formed mouthguards are ready-to-wear dental protection devices. They come in various sizes to fit over different people’s teeth.
Pros:
- Readily available
- Can be a bit cheaper
- No wait time before product delivery
Cons:
- May not fit as snugly as a custom-made mouthguard
- May be uncomfortable when you buy the wrong size
- Cannot fit the mouthguard before buying for hygiene purposes
Boil and Bite Mouthguards
Boil and bite mouthguards comprise a thermoplastic material that you soften using hot water. Once the plastic is pliable, you have to bite it and mold it around your teeth.
Pros:
- Easily available
- Easy to use
- Cheaper option to custom-fit mouthguards
Cons:
- Not as effective in protecting teeth like custom-fit or pre-formed mouthguards
Conclusion
Save yourself from the headache of going to your local dentist to receive treatment for a dental injury. Make a mouthguard part of your essential exercise and sports equipment.
If you are looking for some of the best and most affordable dentists in Ann Arbor and Waterford, turn to Dental House MI. We are a privately-owned dental office that offers a wide array of top-notch dental services. Contact us for a free consultation today!
