If you or your child are big into sports, you probably wear a mouthguard in case anything happens to your teeth. For children especially, they aren’t paying attention to their teeth when they’re playing. Dr. Suman Chibb, your dentist in Owings Mills, MD, discusses the importance of a custom mouthguard and the services offered at Owings Mills Dental Care.
The Importance of a Custom Fit
At many drugstores and sports stores, “bit and fit” mouthguards are available all over. Many people turn to these because they’re cheap and mouthguards are required by certain school sports. However, these kinds of mouthguards can do more harm than good when it comes to your child’s teeth and gums.
Often, these mouthguards don’t fit correctly. They’re large and bulky due to the “one size fits all” approach. Especially for kids, they aren’t going to be comfortable in the mouth. They may have to bite down hard and struggle with keeping them in their mouth while they’re trying to play. This usually leads to the mouthguard being tossed to the side and leaving them 50% more likely to obtain a mouth injury, leading to the need for restorative dentistry services.
With a custom fit mouthguard, they’re shaped to the mouth and designed to fit closely to the teeth. There’s no need to clench teeth and bite down to keep the mouthguard in your mouth. They’ll fit better on your children and they’ll be able to focus on playing instead of keeping the mouthguard in. They can also avoid pain and tension from constantly clenching their jaw.
They also won’t want to take the mouthguard out, as it’s more comfortable to wear. They’ll be able to talk and drink normally. Focusing on the game is easier when they’re comfortable and can play smoothly, without constantly taking out the mouthguard to get a drink of water or yell to a teammate.
The Mouthguard Process
Getting a custom mouthguard isn’t much harder than going to the store to buy a “bite and fit” one. To start, Dr. Chibb will take a mold of your mouth to make sure the mouthguard is made to exact specifications. These molds are sent to a special lab where your mouthguard will be made to fit perfectly.
When the mouthguard is returned, you’ll be able to come to pick it up and use it right away. Before you take it home, Dr. Chibb will have you try it on in the office. If you find anything that’s uncomfortable or not to your liking, Dr. Chibb will make adjustments or send it back to the lab to be refabricated.
Mouthguards at Owings Mills, Maryland Dentist
Give you or your child the best when it comes to mouthguards. Make sure you’re comfortable and focus on the game that you’re playing — not on keeping your mouthguard in. To get set with a mouthguard that’ll protect your teeth well, call us today or schedule an appointment online!