Mouth Guards and what they entail by a South East London dentist

Mouth Guards and what they entail by a South East London dentist

18 / 03 / 2010

A dentist in South East London has spoken recently on the subject of Mouth Guards. Most of us associate a mouth guard with boxers, but most other sports can cause damage to the mouth and teeth and a mouth guard is advisable in all sports. They come in 3 types; general gum shields are available at most sporting shops, they are non adjustable and usually uncomfortable making it difficult to focus on your breathing and talking. The next type is called a `Boil and Bite` shield; this type is a lot better and is so called because in order to get a good fit you need to soften it by boiling it, then you use your fingers to push it into shape around the teeth. They are better to wear, you can talk with them and they offer better protection between the teeth and the mouth. The last type is a custom made one; this type is specially made by a technician for the individual and is usually associated with semi or professional sports people. The good news about Mouth Guards is that they can be, and it is recommended that they are, worn over braces to offer better protection. The Mouth Guard should be carefully cared for to keep the strength of the protection; they should be rinsed with cold water before, and after use then kept in a case to avoid squeezing. Using a tooth paste and a tooth brush to clean them is also recommended by the manufacturers. Storage is important as the most common cause of damage is improper storage, any damage such as a tear or a hole should be taken as being a sign that the guard be replaced. Damaged guards can cause more damage to a mouth and teeth than not wearing a guard at all.