Are Dental Mouthguards Better Than Chemist Ones?

f your child plays sport, you may be considering purchasing a mouthguard to protect their teeth from injury. For some junior sports, a mouthguard is a requirement to participate.

What are the Advantages of Mouthguards?

Not only do they protect teeth, but a mouthguard also protects jaws, cheeks, gums, tongue and other structures of the mouth.

The American Dental Association estimates that mouthguards prevent more than 200,000 injuries to the mouth and face each year. However, only about 15 per cent of those who play sports use mouthguards.

Mouthguards also help absorb blows to the face and mouth. One study showed that high school football players who wore store-bought mouthguards were more likely to suffer mild concussions from sports injuries than athletes who wore custom-made mouthguards.

A dental mouthguard is strong enough to keep teeth in place but flexible enough to allow one to talk and breathe normally. It should fit snugly over the teeth and gums. There are even mouthguards that can be worn over braces.

Fitting a Dental Mouthguard Vs a Chemist Mouthguard

It can be hard to mould a chemist bought mouthguard correctly. Not only do you have to boil it down to make it soft, getting it into your mouth quickly enough without burning yourself can be a challenge.

You can never get as good a fit with a cheaper chemist mouthguard compared to a dental one. And often during sport, the chemist mouth guard will not stay secure against your teeth and breathing easily can be impaired.

Caring for your Dental Mouthguard

Dental mouthguards should be cleaned with cool water and a toothbrush after each use. The flexible material can be damaged from excessive heat.

Keep it away from direct sunlight and don’t use hot water on it.

Bring the mouthguard with you for regular dental check-ups. Your dentist will make sure it still fits properly and has not been damaged.

Our professionally fitted sports mouthguards are made from a model of your own teeth. Many private health funds cover mouthguards under extras, and how much you get back depends on your fund and level of cover. Call 07 5580 0621 or book online to arrange a fitting.

We also offer custom mouth guards for patients in non-sporting settings to offer protection for your teeth in situations where teeth grinding may occur during sleep and result in unnecessary wear and tear.