Sport in Australia is a national past-time. An AusPlay study found that over 63% of Australian children play sports at least once per week. And while there are a slew of great reasons to encourage our kids to participate in sport, we also want to keep them safe from injury.
Many of Australia’s most popular sports involve contact. From football to rugby, basketball to hockey, these sports are fun but can be dangerous without proper protection.
Why Choose Dentist-Made Custom Mouthguards
One of the most overlooked pieces of protective gear is a sports mouthguard. Unlike other sports equipment, this is one of the few items you can get at your local pharmacy. Boil & Bite mouthguards are designed to be easy to use and affordable. Just boil in hot water and bite down to make an imprint.
But are over-the-counter mouthguards safe? The short answer is no.
For anyone playing contact sports, a custom dentist-made mouthguard is the only way to protect your teeth from damage due to impact.
Your teeth are one of the most noticeable features of your face. Nobody wants to smile with holes in their mouth, and nobody wants to pay for dental implants, crowns, and bridges.
Why is a custom mouthguard so much better than boil & bite you ask? Here are 3 of the most important factors with mouthguards.
Comfort
Custom Mouthguards Provide Comfort
Having a proper fit is an important element of your mouthguard. An improperly fit mouthguard is clunky, uncomfortable, and risks jaw muscle strain. Boil and bite mouthguards will not fit the unique mould of your mouth precisely.
The safety and effectiveness of mouthguards directly relate to the way it fits in your mouth. With a better fit comes better safety. The machines that make your custom-fit mouthguards give you a better fit as it applies far more pressure and force than your teeth can. This ensures the guard is perfectly molded to your bite to provide maximum safety and comfort.
An improperly fitted mouthguard can also make it harder to breathe, affects your speech, and becomes a choking hazard if dislodged due to impact.
Safety
Staying Safe With Custom Mouthguards
Safety and protection are the reasons you wear a mouthguard in the first place right? Well if you use over-the-counter mouthguards, you are not getting the basic protection you need.
Boil & bite mouthguards do not conform to your mouth, leaving space and air pockets between the guard and your teeth. These spaces render the mouthguard largely ineffective against hard impacts.
Injuries such as chipped, fractured, or broken teeth are commonplace with boil and bite mouthguards. A custom-made mouthguard is made to hug your teeth, creating a cushioning effect for your teeth when they encounter impact.
An implant or dental crown is much more expensive than the cost of having a custom-fit mouthguard made at your local dentist’s office.
Style
Stylish Custom Mouthguards
Kids are obsessed with the current styles, fads, and trends. Custom-made mouthguards now come in a huge variety of styles and colours to choose from. What kid wouldn’t want their mouthguard in their favourite colour or to match their uniform?
While safety and comfort are the reasons why we wear mouthguards, making them fun and customisable increases their appeal which may mean kids wearing them more often. Boil & bite guards typically come in only a few standard colours with no customisation options.
Customised gear is also easier to identify and keep track of. Customisation makes your mouthguard more like a fun and fashionable accessory rather than a stale piece of protective equipment.
The risks of playing sport without proper protection can cost you money, time, and pain. But luckily for you, protection for your teeth, gums, and jaw is easy and affordable.
Schedule an appointment with your dentist and get a mouthguard that feels great, looks great, and fully protects your unique smile.