If you or your child likes to play a lot of sports then it could be well worth investing in a custom-made mouthguard from Leeds City Dentalcare. Although you can buy mouthguards quite cheaply over-the-counter or online, there are several major advantages to having one custom-made. A ‘one size fits all’ mouthguard will not offer significant protection for the teeth and lips, and is likely to be extremely uncomfortable to wear. It’s important that a mouthguard is comfortable to wear as otherwise it’s less likely to be used. In comparison a mouthguard designed by Dr David Brown or another of our dentists in Leeds here at our Leeds surgery will have been made to take into account a number of different factors. If it’s being made for a child whose teeth are still erupting and whose jaw may still be growing then this will all be taken into consideration during its design.

Custom-made mouthguards are constructed using an impression of the mouth which will be taken at our Leeds surgery. This is then sent to our dental laboratory where the impression will be cast up in dental plaster and used to construct a mouthguard that fits precisely over the teeth, and which is comfortable to wear and won’t restrict breathing. A properly made mouthguard should offer excellent protection, should be tear resistant, odourless and tasteless, and it shouldn’t be bulky but should be comfortable to wear and have good retention. It will be constructed with sufficient thickness in critical areas to give good protection to the teeth. Mouthguards can be made out of one layer of material or they may be constructed from several layers of material depending on the sport involved. With proper care a good quality mouthguard may last several years. They are easy to care for but they should be:

• Rinsed thoroughly before and after each use
• Cleaned after use in cold, soapy water or with a mouthwash before being thoroughly rinsed
• Stored in a study container that has vents
• Kept away from sunlight or very hot water
• Regularly checked for any signs of wear and tear

But Are They Really Necessary?

If you’ve been playing sports for a long time and have never suffered any significant physical injuries then you may question whether or not it’s necessary to get a custom-made sports mouthguards from Leeds City Dentalcare. The answer is definitely yes, as according to the British Orthodontic Society, between 13% and 39% of all dental injuries are sports related, and approximately 25% of children in the UK will injure and possibly lose a front tooth at some stage during their sporting career at school. If you have private dental insurance then you might find they won’t pay out if a sports injury occurs while not wearing a proper mouthguard.

Sports Mouthguards and Braces

Children who wear fixed braces are recommended to wear a mouthguard over their brace to avoid suffering any lacerations to the mouth from the brace. In this instance a fixed brace can offer quite a lot of protection and support to the teeth, so the whole purpose of a sports mouthguard is to protect the oral tissues or soft tissues of the mouth from the hard parts of the brace.