A fast-moving ball, a sudden fall, or an unexpected collision can change a game in an instant. For active families in Virginia Beach and North Virginia Beach, keeping young athletes safe on the field is a top priority. Parents routinely invest in high-quality cleats, helmets, and shin guards. Yet, one of the most critical pieces of protective equipment often goes overlooked.
Dental injuries are surprisingly common in sports. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, between 10% and 61% of athletes experience some form of dental trauma during their playing years. A broken or knocked-out tooth is a painful and expensive ordeal.
Protecting your smile requires the right preventative equipment. A properly fitted sports mouthguard absorbs the shock of physical impacts, significantly lowering the risk of severe dental trauma. For patients undergoing orthodontic treatment, this protection becomes even more crucial.
We want our patients to play hard and smile confidently. This guide breaks down exactly why an athletic mouthguard is a mandatory part of your sports uniform and how to choose the right fit for your unique smile.
Key Takeaways
- Mouthguards reduce injury risk: Wearing a mouthguard lowers the chance of orofacial injuries by up to 86%.
- Essential for braces: Protective guards prevent metal brackets and wires from cutting the soft tissues of your lips and cheeks during an impact.
- Custom fits offer the best defense: Custom-made mouthguards provide superior retention, comfort, and protection compared to generic store-bought options.
- Regular replacements are necessary: As teeth shift during orthodontic treatment, your mouthguard must be updated to maintain a proper fit and adequate protection.
Why Every Athlete Needs a Mouthguard
Sports naturally carry a risk of physical contact. High-impact activities like football, hockey, wrestling, and boxing present obvious dangers to the face. However, athletes in limited-contact sports like basketball, gymnastics, and skateboarding also face a high risk of facial injuries. A stray elbow on the basketball court or a bad landing at the skate park can easily result in cracked or missing teeth.
The upper front teeth, known as the maxillary incisors, take the brunt of the force in most facial collisions. In fact, these teeth account for 50% to 90% of all sports-related dental injuries.
A mouthguard acts as a resilient buffer. When a heavy force hits the jaw or mouth, the guard absorbs the shock and redistributes the impact energy evenly. This cushioning effect protects the teeth from chipping and prevents the jaws from slamming together forcefully. By keeping the teeth separated from the soft tissues, a mouthguard also stops the teeth from biting through the tongue or lips during a sudden shock.
Protecting Braces and Sensitive Tissues
Orthodontic treatment represents a significant investment of time and resources. Patients wearing traditional metal or custom 3D-printed braces have hardware attached directly to the surface of their teeth. This hardware does an excellent job of aligning your smile, but it requires extra care on the playing field.
A direct hit to a mouth with braces can cause significant soft tissue damage. The metal brackets and wires can easily puncture or lacerate the inside of the cheeks and lips. These cuts are painful, slow to heal, and can interrupt your athletic season.
Mouthguards create a smooth, thick barrier between the braces and your mouth’s soft tissues. They also protect the orthodontic appliances themselves. A strong impact can bend wires, dislodge brackets, or break your customized hardware. Repairing damaged braces requires emergency orthodontic visits and can potentially delay your treatment timeline. Wearing a mouthguard ensures your orthodontic progress stays right on track.
Custom vs. Over-the-Counter Mouthguards
Walking down the aisle of any sporting goods store, you will find a wide variety of mouthguards. Dr. Pardeep Kaur and the team at Coastal Orthodontics strongly advise patients to understand the differences between these options before making a purchase.
Stock Mouthguards
These pre-formed, ready-to-wear mouthguards are the most affordable option. However, they offer the lowest level of protection. Stock mouthguards come in limited sizes and cannot be adjusted to fit your specific bite. Athletes often have to clench their teeth simply to keep the guard in place, which interferes with normal breathing and speaking.
Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards
Made from thermoplastic materials, these guards are softened in hot water and then bitten into shape. While they offer a slightly better fit than stock versions, they can still feel bulky and often fail to provide adequate coverage for the back teeth. The molding process can also thin out the material over the front teeth, reducing the protective cushioning where you need it most.
Custom-Made Mouthguards
Fabricated in a dental or orthodontic office, a custom mouthguard is designed specifically for your mouth. Our team takes precise digital impressions of your teeth to create a guard that fits flawlessly. Custom mouthguards stay securely in place, allowing athletes to communicate with teammates and breathe easily during intense exertion.
For orthodontic patients, custom mouthguards are highly recommended. Our team can design a guard that accommodates your braces and leaves specific room for your teeth to move as your treatment progresses.
Dedicated to Professional Excellence
Receiving treatment from an experienced professional ensures you get the highest standard of care. Dr. Kaur actively stays at the forefront of orthodontic advancements to provide innovative, safe, and effective solutions for her patients.
Her commitment to excellence extends beyond the clinic. Dr. Kaur proudly serves as a Director for the Virginia Association of Orthodontists, a non-profit organization dedicated to the science of orthodontics and the advancement of patient care. By collaborating with industry leaders and participating in ongoing education, our practice brings world-class safety standards and treatment techniques directly to our community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I clean my sports mouthguard?
A: Proper hygiene is essential to prevent bacterial buildup. Rinse your mouthguard with cool water before and after every use. You can clean it gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste or wash it with mild antibacterial soap. Avoid using hot water, as high temperatures can warp the material.
Q: How often should a mouthguard be replaced?
A: Sports mouthguards must be replaced when they show signs of wear, such as becoming deformed, thinned out, or jagged. For teenagers and orthodontic patients, mouthguards need to be replaced more frequently to accommodate growing jaws, erupting permanent teeth, and the shifting alignment caused by braces.
Q: Are custom mouthguards actually comfortable?
A: Yes. Because custom mouthguards are designed from an exact replica of your teeth, they have a slim profile that does not trigger the gag reflex. They allow for normal oxygen intake and clear speech, making them the most comfortable option for serious athletes.
Q: Can I wear a mouthguard with clear aligners?
A: Patients using clear aligners like Invisalign should remove their aligner trays before participating in contact sports. You will need a standard sports mouthguard to wear over your natural teeth during the game or practice. Once you finish playing, you can simply clean your teeth and place your aligners back in.
Protect Your Progress and Keep Smiling
Safety should never take a backseat to competition. Treating a mouthguard as a mandatory piece of athletic gear protects your teeth, preserves your orthodontic hardware, and gives you the peace of mind to play your best.
If you or your child needs a new mouthguard for the upcoming season, our team is ready to help you find the perfect fit. Start your journey to a healthy, protected smile today. Contact Coastal Orthodontics to get your free virtual smile assessment and discover how we can support your long-term dental health.
