Keeping your smile safe: The importance of using mouthguards

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nicole Howell
  • 19th Medical Group, NCO-in-charge preventive dentistry
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  If someone lost one or two front teeth, they probably wouldn't smile much. Face-to-face conversations would be uncomfortable. It wouldn't be easy pronouncing certain words. And how about chewing pizza or an apple? Until someone's teeth are gone, they might not miss them.

Teens and adults experience thousands of injuries each year on the playing field, on the basketball court, while biking or skating and during other activities. Injuries to the face in nearly every sport can harm a person's teeth, lips, cheeks and tongue.

A properly fitted mouthguard, or mouth protector, is an important piece of athletic gear that can protect a person's teeth and smile. People may have seen them used in contact sports, such as football, boxing, ice hockey, lacrosse and women's field hockey.

Mouthguards help protect teeth even in non-contact sports like gymnastics. Many experts recommend a mouthguard be worn for any recreational activity that poses a risk of injury to the mouth.

There are three types of mouthguards: the ready-made, or stock, mouthguard; the mouth formed "boil-and-bite" mouthguard; and the custom-made mouthguard made by a dentist.

All properly-fitted mouthguards provide varying degrees of protection. A custom-fitted mouthguard professionally-made in a dental office can be tailored to the demands of the athlete and the sport.

The most effective mouthguard should have several features. It should be resilient, tear-resistant and comfortable. It also should fit properly, be durable, easy to clean and not restrict breathing.

A mouthguard strap can be fastened to most types of mouthguards. The strap protects against loss and allows the mouthguard to be suspended from a face mask when the athlete is not in play.

Generally, a mouthguard covers only the upper teeth. If a person has a protruding jaw, their dentist may recommend that their lower teeth also be covered.

Before and after each use, rinse the mouthguard with cold water or with an antiseptic mouth rinse. People can clean it with toothpaste and a toothbrush. When it's not being used, place the mouthguard in a firm, perforated container. This permits air circulation and helps prevent damage. Avoid high temperatures from sources such as hot water, hot surfaces or direct sunlight, which can distort the mouthguard.

Check it for tears and holes and to see whether it has become loose. A mouthguard that is torn or in bad shape can irritate a person's mouth and lessen the amount of protection it provides.