What Type of Mouthguard is Best?
Custom Mouthguards ~ Offer superior fit, comfort and protection because they are made from the highest quality material molded from an impression of your individual teeth. Better fit means better protection, as the athlete is more likely to wear the mouthguard.
A properly fitted mouthguard, with the correct thickness and material, separates the mandible (lower jaw) from the maxilla (upper jaw). Therefore, when impact occurs, the shock is absorbed and equally distributed throughout the mouthguard, thereby reducing the force going to the base of the skull and ultimately to the brain cavity. Children who begin wearing custom-made mouthguards at an early age tend to continue this habit into the future.
Dentists Recommend Custom Mouthguards
Dentists recommend that athletes wear custom-made mouthguards because they offer:
- Optimal protection – Custom mouthguards are better than “off-the-shelf” mouthguards at reducing the risk of injury, including:
- Concussions or brain damage
- Jaw dislocation or fracture
- Fractured or lost teeth
- Cuts or bruises to the mouth or face
- Stress to the neck
- Optimal comfort – Custom mouthguards fit better than standard mouthguards.
- They feel better in the mouth.
- They allow athletes to breathe and speak more easily.
- An athlete is more likely to wear a comfortable mouthguard, thereby minimizing the risk of injury.
For more information…
Review the American Dental Association’s Statement on Athletic Mouthguards
See what the American Dental Association has to say about Protecting Teeth with Mouthguards
Review an article from the Center for Disease Control on Preventing and Recognizing Concusions