April is National Facial Protection Month, and with summer rapidly approaching, the team at Stiles Dentistry understands the importance of being outside. So this week we wanted to talk about mouth guards, what they are, when to use them, the works. If you have any additional questions, give us a call! We'd love to hear from you!Q: What are athletic mouth protectors?
A: Athletic mouth protectors, or mouth guards, are made of soft plastic. They are adapted to fit comfortably to the shape of the upper teeth.
Q: Why are mouth guards important?
A: Mouth guards hold top priority as sports equipment. They protect not just the teeth, but the lips, cheeks, and tongue. They help protect athletes from such head and neck injuries as concussions and jaw fractures. Increasingly, organized sports are requiring mouth guards to prevent injury to their athletes. Research shows that most oral injuries occur when athletes are not wearing mouth protection.
Q: When should I wear a mouth guard?
A: Whenever you are in an activity with a risk of falls or of head contact with other players or equipment. This includes football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding, even gymnastics. We usually think of football and hockey as the most dangerous to the teeth, but nearly half of sports-related mouth injuries occur in basketball and baseball.
Q: How do I choose a mouth guard?
A: Any mouth guard works better than no mouth guard. So, choose a mouth guard that you can wear comfortably. You can select from several options in mouth guards. First, preformed or "boil-to-fit" mouth guards are found in sports stores. Different types and brands vary in terms of comfort, protection, and cost. Second, we can fabricate a custom mouthguard for you, and even a performance enhancing one from Under Armor. A custom mouthguard will be more comfortable to wear, and more effective in preventing injuries. Call us at 240-252-1032 if you have any other questions!
-Drs. Dennis & Marie Stiles, dentistry in Gaithersburg, MD
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