Mouthguard, when is it necessary?
Associated with contact sports, experts recommend using it when practicing any physical activity that poses a risk to the mouth. Helmets, shin guards (“shin guards”), knee pads… These are protections that are commonly used when practicing sports such as cycling, football or volleyball and that prevent injuries to the head, limbs and joints.
If we protect these parts of our body, why don’t we do the same with our mouth?
Using a mouth guard prevents the crown or tooth, the maxillary bone or the temporomandibular joint (joint that allows the jaw to open, close and move laterally) from fracturing after a fall or blow.
It also helps prevent injuries to soft tissues such as the gums, tongue or palate.
But also, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), when pressing the mouthguard while playing sports, the muscles of the jaw and neck are activated, which provides protection against a possible concussion.
Another benefit of using a mouthguard is that it makes breathing more effective during physical exertion by modifying the position of the airways.
In which sports is a mouthguard recommended?
The use of a mouthguard is associated with contact sports such as boxing, hockey or rugby, in which there is a greater risk of receiving a blow to the mouth.
But experts recommend using a mouth guard when practicing any sport that poses a risk of injury to this area of the face, such as basketball, football or skating, among others.
Types of mouthguards
##BULLET##Standard or prefabricated mouthguards.
They are sold in sporting goods stores.
Their main problem is that they do not fit completely in the mouth, but are loose and wide, so it is necessary to press on the jaw to keep them in place.
In addition, they can be too bulky and, as a result, it is difficult to speak or breathe when they are worn.
##BULLET##Semi-adaptive mouthguards.
They offer a better fit than prefabricated mouthguards as they are made of a thermoplastic material that becomes flexible when boiled with water.
Then, we have to keep it in our mouth for a few minutes so that it takes the shape of our teeth.
##BULLET##Custom-made mouthguards.
They are made by a dentist and are completely personalized according to the particularities of each patient, so they are tight and there is no need to apply pressure to hold them in place.
They are manufactured with thermoplastic materials from an exact mold of the patient’s mouth.
They adapt perfectly to the anatomy of the mouth, making them more comfortable and not hindering speech or breathing.
Relationship between sports and oral health To obtain good sports performance and, at the same time, keep our mouths out of danger, it is not only necessary to use a mouth guard.
It is also essential to have correct oral hygiene habits since the success of our sports career, whether professional or amateur, depends on the health of our gums and mouth.