Posted by A mouthguard is useful equipment for everyone. It is not only worthy for people undergoing an orthodontic treatment or the other but also for a large number of folks who have nothing to do as such with orthodontic dentistry. In plain and simple words, mouthguard protects the teeth. While partaking in a body-contact sport, like football, ice hockey or baseball chances of injury to the teeth and the overall mouth are significantly high for everyone. A mouthguard protects you from those injuries. Other than sports, dentists prescribe mouthguards to patients suffering from bruxism or teeth clenching or teeth grinding. These protective equipments are even crucial while you are undergoing any orthodontic procedure and your teeth are in constant movement due to the pressure exerted on those artificially through the braces.
As a matter of fact, the British Orthodontic Society or BOS also strongly recommends wearing mouthguards. On the other hand, varieties of this mouth protection equipment are now readily available in the market. As a result now there are lots of options for you to choose from while shopping for mouthguards depending your budget and preferences.
Get introduced to brace mouthguards
Brace mouthguards are very popular among sportsmen and women. It is widely used in a number of contact sports including boxing, wrestling, football, martial arts, hockey, basketball, rugby, netball and others. A brace mouth is efficient cushioning harsh blows to the face that are very common in these kinds of sports. A brace mouthguard is carefully designed to provide excess space to cover the teeth both in the lower and upper row as well as the gums. A mouthguard is designed in such a way that it fits comfortably into your mouth and does not restrict breathing.
Types of the appliance
Patients undergoing any orthodontic procedure have their teeth in a transitional state. Therefore mouthguards have to fit snugly on the teeth. What should you look for while selecting a mouthguard? This is a very relevant question in the present circumstances? This range of teeth protecting appliances is mainly available in two varieties –
- Silicone and
- Ethylene vinyl acetate or EVA
The silicone variety is mostly made from 100% medical grade silicone. On the other hand the EVA is a non toxic, odourless and absorbing variety that is highly durable and prevents abrasion. This variety is best suited to partake in contact sports of your choice without any concern or hassle.
Advantages of wearing braces mouthguards in contact sports
Braces mouthguards are universally recommended by dentists. This type of protective gear for the mouth negates risk of injuries to the tooth or suffering from dental trauma. To cut a long story short, this range of the product prevents you from paying a lot of money to repair your orthodontic braces from injuries that you may sustain while playing any contact sport. The injuries that a braces mouthguard saves you from include the following –
- Tooth loss
- Bleeding gums
- Chipped tooth
- Broken jaws
- Brackets of your orthodontic braces breaking to pieces
- Cut and bleeding lips
In addition to the conditions mentioned above, the appliance also saves your teeth from going out of alignment.
Braces mouthguard – types and varieties
There are various types of braces mouthguard that are available in the market. The varieties include the following –
- Stock mouthguard
- Boil and bite mouthguard
- Custom mouthguard
Stock mouthguard
Usually this range of the appliances comes in a ‘ready to wear’ condition. Thus it is obvious that the product range also comes in a standard shape that suits the majority of people. These are also highly reasonable in cost and are ideal for those who are on a tight budget. You can find this range of products at your local pharmacy. On the flip side, this variety of mouthguards offers minimal protection to the teeth as well as your orthodontic braces. Every set of the teeth and the jaws is unique in both shape and structure. Stock mouthguards cannot be adjusted to fit the structure of your jaws and the teeth. This is why this range of the products offers the least protection against dental trauma and broken or damaged orthodontic braces. This variety of teeth protection appliances could be suitable for some athletes but certainly is not the best choice.
Boil and bite mouthguards
This range of braces mouthguards is quite costly compared to the stock variety. But it is worth investing upon, especially if you are an orthodontic patient and your teeth are expected to move from their initial position as a result of the treatment. Compared to the stock mouthguards, this range of the products is more suitable for athletes who are on braces. The boil and bite variety of braces mouthguards is made from 100% medical grade silicone. In other words, it means this variety of the appliances can be heated and remodelled frequently so that the braces adjust to the shape of the teeth in course of time while making enough space for the brace brackets and the wire at the same time.
Custom mouthguards
Your custom mouthguards will be supplied by none other but your orthodontist. You have to visit your orthodontist to get your custom braces mouthguards. The expert has to take a look at your teeth to prepare a complete customised and suitable mouthguard that fits perfectly on the teeth as well as your braces. It is designed in such a way there is always ample room both in the upper and the lower sets of teeth to facilitate their movement. Thus your transitional teeth can easily get aligned correctly with this version of the product.
It is crucial to take proper care of both your teeth and the braces mouthguard. When a mouthguard is kept clean its durability extends and there are also lesser chances of harmful bacteria making holes in your teeth and infecting the gums. Dentists having impressive track record in handling cases with invisalign clear braces in London suggest the following tips to maintain hygiene and cleanliness of your braces mouthguards.
- Whenever you are not wearing your mouthguard, just store it safely in its secure container.
- Avoid exposing your braces mouthguard to heat and sunlight to save it from distortion.
- Keep changing your mouthguard every six months or as recommended by your dentist.
- Other than brushing the teeth twice a day, it is also important to clean the mouthguard to prevent formation of bacterial plaque.
- Use a soft bristled toothbrush and any non abrasive toothpaste for the purpose.
- You should also rinse it properly in cold water and using antibacterial solution to avoid bad breath and infections.