All About Sports Guards
Sports guards offer more than just tooth protection. They also provide safeguarding for braces and permanent dental devices like bridges and dental implants, as well as shield the inner areas of your cheeks and lips from potential brace-related accidents. For those engaged in activities with risks like falls, physical contact, or airborne equipment, investing in a sports guard is a prudent choice. While any sports guard is better than none, a custom guard crafted by your dental professionals specifically for your mouth and teeth offers unparalleled protection.
So What Are Your Options?
Stock Sports Guards
These arrive pre-shaped and prepared for immediate use, accessible at sports equipment retailers. However, they frequently lack a precise fit, causing them to feel cumbersome in your mouth and impeding your ability to speak or breathe comfortably. Athletes commonly experience distraction due to these devices, prompting them to either remove the guard or fiddle with it during the course of the game.
Boil & Bite Sports Guards
These kits include guidelines for usage. The process involves boiling the unshaped guard in water and subsequently molding it to your teeth by biting down on the plastic. These kits are also accessible at sports equipment retailers and provide a superior fit compared to ready-made guards. However, this technique might not suit everyone. Should your boil-and-bite guard prove uncomfortable, unwieldy, or hinder your ability to breathe and speak, it’s worth contemplating a personalised guard.
Custom-Made Mouth Guards
Are you surprised this is our favourite? When it comes to an individualised, tailor-made mouthguard, there’s simply no alternative. The sports guard crafted by our team ensures the utmost protection and unparalleled comfort. And should the unlikely scenario arise where it doesn’t quite fit comfortably? Rest assured, we’re readily available to make the necessary adjustments, and you have every right to hold us responsible for that commitment.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they serve distinct purposes despite their snug fit on your teeth. Mouthguards and nightguards are designed to fulfill separate functions for your teeth and jaw. While sports guards prioritize shielding your mouth from impacts, night guards concentrate on your bite, as well as the alignment of your teeth and jaw.
These are all different names for the same thing: a device worn over your teeth that protects them from injury or reduces the severity of an injury.
In an ideal scenario, guards should be renewed at the conclusion of every sports season. Mouthguards can deteriorate over time, particularly if the wearer tends to chew on them or subject them to excessive strain. Additionally, teeth can undergo shifts during adolescence, leading to a less precise fit for their guard. Numerous athletes engaged in multiple sports opt for a fresh sports guard during their routine 6-month checkup to ensure continued protection and optimal fit.
A sports guard tailored to your mouth should offer a comfortable experience. It should facilitate effortless breathing and clear speech. If you catch yourself constantly adjusting it or removing it during crucial moments in a game, there’s a possibility that it hasn’t been fitted properly.
Any sport or activity involving the potential for falls, interactions with fellow players, or being struck by objects like balls or equipment warrants consideration for a sports guard. Whether you or your child partake in football, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, field hockey, water polo, cricket, ringette, curling, skateboarding, gymnastics, mountain biking, wrestling, boxing, or any other contact or high-risk sport, it’s wise to contemplate using a sports guard.
You are extra encouraged to wear a sports guard! Not only does it protect your teeth, but it also protects your braces and the inside of your lips and cheeks from your braces should you be struck in the face.
What Our Patients are Saying
Jacqueline Chow
Wonderful team at Dundas Dental Care!
Dr. Mo and Dr. Lamiaa are both very compassionate and caring, and always have time to answer all my questions. I am very satisfied by their excellent service. I feel very welcomed going into the office and the atmosphere is very comfortable. The staff is very accommodating when it comes to appointments and make making insurance claims very easy for me. The best dentist I’ve ever been to, would 200% recommend!
Ken Woychesko
First time patient and I REALLY like this clinic! They took excellent care of me, explained everything that was going on, and have gone above-and-beyond when it comes to Covid-19 precautions. So happy to have found them!
Amanda M.
I've been going to Dundas Dental for several years now and I cannot be happier with my experiences there. The best part, aside from fantastic care, is the people that work there. Everyone there is so incredibly friendly and I love that everyone always remembers me and treats me with care and kindness :) I highly recommend Dundas Dental to anyone looking for an outstanding team to help you with your dental needs :)
