Whether you’re playing football, basketball, hockey, or another sport, protecting your teeth should be part of your game-day routine. A collision, fall, or unexpected impact can cause chipped teeth, knocked-out teeth, and injuries to your lips and gums. While store-bought mouthguards offer an accessible way to protect your smile, a custom-made mouthguard from your dentist provides several additional benefits. Here’s why investing in one may be worth it!
1. Enjoy a More Comfortable Fit
One of the biggest advantages of a custom-made mouthguard is that it’s designed specifically for your mouth. Your dentist takes an impression or digital scan of your teeth, allowing a dental laboratory to create an appliance that closely follows your unique dental anatomy.
In contrast, stock mouthguards come in predetermined sizes, while boil-and-bite options rely on you molding the material yourself. These alternatives may feel bulky or uncomfortable, especially if they don’t adapt properly to your teeth.
A custom fit helps eliminate unnecessary pressure and makes wearing your mouthguard more comfortable.
2. Get Better Retention and Stability
A mouthguard can’t protect your smile if it keeps slipping out of place! Store-bought options may require you to clench your teeth to keep them positioned correctly, which can become distracting during athletic activities.
Custom-made mouthguards are designed to fit securely over your teeth without requiring constant adjustment. This allows you to focus on your performance rather than worrying about whether your mouthguard is staying put.
3. Protect More Than Just Your Teeth
A sports-related impact can damage more than your pearly whites. Your lips, cheeks, gums, and other oral structures may also be vulnerable to injury.
A properly designed custom mouthguard provides a protective barrier that helps absorb and distribute impact forces. This can reduce the risk and severity of dental and soft tissue injuries during sports.
Although no mouthguard can eliminate every risk of injury, having one that fits properly provides an important layer of protection.
4. Make Speaking and Breathing Easier
Athletes need to communicate with teammates, listen to coaches, and stay focused throughout a game. An uncomfortable or poorly fitting mouthguard can make these things more difficult.
Because custom-made mouthguards are designed around your individual dental anatomy, they can offer a less bulky, more natural-feeling fit. This may make it easier to speak and breathe comfortably while participating in your favorite activities.
5. Get a Mouthguard Designed for Your Needs
Every athlete has different dental needs. Someone who plays football may need a different type of protection than someone who participates in basketball or martial arts.
Your dentist can recommend a custom mouthguard based on your sport, dental anatomy, and individual oral health needs. This is particularly helpful if you have braces, dental restorations, or other considerations that affect how a mouthguard should fit.
6. Make an Investment in Your Long-Term Oral Health
Custom-made mouthguards generally cost more upfront than their store-bought counterparts. However, they’re designed for a precise fit and may offer better comfort, retention, and durability.
Considering the expense and inconvenience of treating a knocked-out, fractured, or otherwise injured tooth, investing in appropriate protection can be a smart preventive measure.
Give Your Smile the Protection It Deserves
You work hard to improve your athletic performance, so don’t forget to protect your smile along the way! Talk to your dentist about whether a custom-made athletic mouthguard is right for you.
About the Practice
Dr. Linda Steele provides personalized dental care with an emphasis on helping patients maintain healthy, confident smiles. Through comprehensive dental services, including custom athletic mouthguards, Dr. Steele helps patients protect their teeth and prevent sports-related dental injuries. The practice is committed to patient education and preventive care, giving individuals the tools they need to maintain their oral health both on and off the field.
Call us at (972) 315-3355 or schedule your appointment online