Mouth Guards Many of these incidents that end up with a broken or knocked out tooth can be prevented by wearing a sports mouth guard. A dental mouth guard is a flexible appliance made out of plastic that usually covers the upper teeth and gums to protect them from injury. A properly fitted dental mouth guard may be especially important for people who wear braces or have fixed bridge work that could be damaged in case of a blow to the face. Although dental mouth guards typically only cover the upper teeth, your dentist or orthodontist may recommend one for the lower teeth if you have braces on these teeth too.

Dental mouth guards can cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth.
A dental mouth guard can save your child (or you) from a painful teeth injury during sports.

Protective action of dental mouth guards

Anyone involved in a potentially hazardous activity should wear a mouth guard to reduce the risk of :
injuries to the front teeth (broken teeth, knocked out or displaced from its socket)
cuts and bruises to the cheeks, lips and tongue,
concussion and damage to the jaw, by absorbing the force of a blow to the lower jaw.
The cost of a dental mouth guard is very small compared to the emotional and financial cost of a teeth injury.

Types of dental mouth guards

There are three types of dental mouth guards :
1. Stock mouth guards are inexpensive and ready to wear, but they often don’t fit very well.
2. Boil and bite mouth guards should be softened in hot water and then inserted in the mouth. By biting on the softened material, it takes the shape of your teeth. They offer a better fit than stock mouthguards.
3. Custom mouth guards are made by a dentist for you personally, based on an impression of your teeth taken by the dentist. As they are customized they can offer a better fit, feel and protection than the other types but they are more expensive.
Dental mouth guards of your children should be replaced at least once a year, to follow the growth of jaws and teeth and continue to provide adequate protection against a teeth injury.