3 Benefits of Wearing a Mouthguard for Contact Sports

Although our teeth are vulnerable to damage when playing contact sports, properly protecting them is often neglected. Mouthguards prevent about 200,000 teeth and mouth injuries every single year.

Dr. Paige R. Lester and Dr. Joe Garner at Healthy Smiles of Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama, genuinely care about their patients and are dedicated to providing exceptional service. If you want to learn more about the benefits of mouthguards, contact us at (205) 991-9535.

What Are Mouthguards?

Mouthguards act like helmets for your teeth and jaws. They reduce the risk of getting hurt by protecting your teeth while playing contact sports.

There are 3 types of mouthguards available - stock fit, boil-and-bite, and custom-fit mouthguards. The first two types of mouthguards do not offer full protection and they can also be bulky and uncomfortable to wear. 

Custom-fit mouthguards are manufactured based on your teeth impressions and, therefore, fit more comfortably and protect your teeth better.

Benefits of Using a Mouthguard for Contact Sports

Mouthguards ensure your teeth are protected by reducing the probability of damage to the teeth, gums, jaw, tongue, and lips.

Mouthguards Protect Your Teeth

When playing contact sports like hockey and football, mouthguards help protect the teeth but also the jaw, tongue, and lips from serious blows or injuries. A custom-fit mouthguard does not limit breathing or affect your ability to speak and provides more protection.

Mouthguards Protect Your Dental Work

If you have dental work done like implants or bridges or if you wear braces, you need to take extra precautions when playing contact sports. Otherwise, you may incur a lot of expenses repairing or replacing your dental work. Wearing a mouthguard will offer an extra degree of protection.

Mouthguards Prevent Injury

It may sound surprising, but a custom-fit mouthguard can also protect you from neck injuries, concussions, and even cerebral bleeding. Mouthguards prevent the lower jaw from ramming into the upper jaw and acts as padding for your teeth and gums.

Teeth fractures can be very painful. Mouthguards can help prevent fractures as well and also protect your teeth against the effects of teeth grinding and clenching.

To learn more about mouthguards and how effective they are when playing contact sports, get in touch with Dr. Lester and Dr. Garner at Healthy Smiles of Birmingham. Schedule an appointment by calling (205) 991-9535. You can visit our office located at 100 Heatherbrooke Park Dr. Suite A, Birmingham, AL 35242.