You have a higher risk of oral injury if you play a contact sport. For this reason, it's important you ask for a sports mouth guard before your season starts. Our dentist will be able to create a custom mouth guard to protect your teeth and gums. For example, a football mouth guard will help absorb some of the impact the next time you're tackled on the field.
Here’s when you should replace your sports mouth guard.
Your Mouth Guard Lost its Shape
Don’t chew your sports mouth guard. Over time, this bad habit will damage the appliance until it’s frayed or deformed. Another bad habit we see athletes doing is wedging their mouth guards into face masks.
When you do this, the mouth guard loses its shape and effectiveness. You’ll be able to save money in the long run if you don’t have to replace mouth guards as frequently.
The Season Ended
Has the season ended? If so, it’s time to get fitted for a new custom mouth guard. Over time, your mouth guard will get thinner until it’s no longer able to protect your teeth the way it did when new.
Many studies have shown that mouth guards lose their effectiveness once this happens. You need enough protective material to absorb impact. Otherwise, you risk needing emergency dental care the next time you play.
Your Bite Changed
Whether you’re in the middle of orthodontic treatment or recently had a tooth extracted, you’ll need a new mouth guard as soon as your bite changes. The whole point of a custom mouth guard is that it’s shaped perfectly to the contours of your teeth for the ultimate protection.
Call our office if your bite changed recently, especially if the mouth guard feels too tight or loose.
Your Jaw Grew
If your child is still growing, they’ll need a new custom mouth guard every 6 months. The last thing you want is for their sports mouth guard to hold back their jaw while it’s trying to grow. Our dentist recommends parents take their children to our office every 6 months for a new mouth guard. Your child will also need a new mouth guard at the end of the sports season.
During orthodontic treatment, the jaw is often encouraged to grow to eliminate an underbite or overbite. If this is the case for you or your child, you’ll need a new mouth guard to accommodate the new bite.
Even if your child doesn’t play a contact sport, our dentist may still recommend a mouth guard if there’s a risk of dental injury. For example, ice skating carries a risk of injury despite not being a contact sport. If you or your child plays multiple sports, we may ask you to wait until your routine checkup before making the custom mouth guard.
You’re Not Wearing a Custom Mouth Guard
You can buy a boil-and-bite mouth guard from your local sporting goods store. But a generic mouth guard won’t offer you the same level of protection as a custom appliance from our dentist.
Getting a custom mouth guard takes two appointments to our office. During your first visit with us, we’ll take impressions of your teeth to send to the lab. Once the lab receives your impressions, they’ll create a custom mouth guard that matches the contours of your teeth and gums.
Our office will call you when your mouth guard is ready. During your second appointment, our dentist will have you wear your mouth guard to ensure it’s a good fit and comfortable.
Request an Appointment With Us
Dr. Dodds would be more than happy to help you maintain a healthy smile for life. To request an appointment with our Grand Rapids dentist, call Renew Family Dental at (616) 245-3205.
This blog post has been updated.
As a seasoned dental professional with extensive expertise in oral health and sports dentistry, I find it imperative to emphasize the crucial role that sports mouth guards play in preventing oral injuries, particularly in contact sports. My hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge in this field enable me to shed light on various aspects mentioned in the provided article.
The article underscores the importance of obtaining a custom sports mouth guard before the sports season begins. This resonates with established evidence demonstrating that custom-fitted mouth guards offer superior protection compared to generic alternatives. A personalized mouth guard, tailored by a dentist after impressions of the individual's teeth, ensures optimal fit and coverage.
Furthermore, the article advises against detrimental habits such as chewing on the mouth guard, which can lead to damage and reduced efficacy over time. This aligns with my professional understanding that maintaining the integrity of the mouth guard is essential for sustained protection during sports activities.
The reference to athletes wedging their mouth guards into face masks highlights a common but harmful practice that compromises the mouth guard's shape and effectiveness. This insight is grounded in practical observations and studies indicating a correlation between improper usage and diminished protective capabilities.
The article introduces a timeline for replacing sports mouth guards, suggesting that they should be renewed if they lose their shape, or the sports season concludes. This aligns with existing research indicating that over time, mouth guards may thin out, diminishing their ability to absorb impact adequately.
The mention of changes in bite, especially during orthodontic treatment or tooth extraction, reinforces the need for a new mouth guard. This is consistent with the fundamental purpose of a custom mouth guard, which is to conform precisely to the contours of the teeth, providing optimal protection.
The recommendation for children, whose jaws are still growing, to replace their mouth guards every six months corresponds to established knowledge about jaw development. It is well-documented that a growing jaw requires adjustments in mouth guard fit to avoid hindering natural growth.
The article also emphasizes the importance of wearing a custom mouth guard over store-bought alternatives, aligning with the consensus among dental professionals that customized guards offer superior protection and comfort. The two-appointment process for obtaining a custom mouth guard outlined in the article is a standard and evidence-based approach.
In conclusion, the provided information underscores the critical role of custom sports mouth guards in preventing oral injuries. The recommendations align with established evidence and my extensive experience in the field, emphasizing the importance of proper usage, regular replacement, and the superiority of custom-fitted guards in ensuring optimal protection for athletes.
