Choosing the Right Mouth Guard

Stelzer Dental Aesthetic and General Dentistry, a sponsor of SuburbanOneSports.com, offers custom-fitted mouth guards. Visit their web site at www.StelzerDental.com or call 215-646-5777.

Choosing the Right Mouth Guard
By Dr. Joshua Stelzer, Stelzer Dental

Mouth guards.

It’s no secret that the use of a mouth guard can save teeth from potentially serious damage when competing in sports, but did you know that choosing the right mouth guard is every bit as important as wearing one?

Anyone who has ever watched a sporting event has seen athletes chewing on their mouth guards while they play. Some even slip and fall out when the athlete tries to talk. That’s because most over-the-counter mouth guards do not fit property.

A custom-fitted mouth guard – which can be made only by a dentist - allows athletes to speak with no difficulty while also protecting teeth from potential damage. It can only be removed with bilateral finger pressure to unseat the fit.

When choosing a mouth guard, consider your options. There are several different types:

1. Custom made mouth guards (Straps can be added to the mouth guard for sports that require helmets.)

2. Ready-made or stock mouth guard

3. “Boil and Bite” mouth guard

While all mouth guards provide varying degrees of protection, a custom-fitted mouth guard made in the dental office can be tailored to the demands of the athlete and the sport.

According to the American Dental Association, the most effective mouth guard should have several features. It should be resilient, tear-resistant and comfortable. It also should fit properly, be durable and easy to clean, and not restrict speech or breathing.

Over-the-counter mouth guards with in their wide array of colors might seem like an easy solution, but don’t get caught in the marketing game. The confusing directions and ultimately poor fit fail to deliver the “real” protection needed.

Dentists encourage parents to start their children wearing mouth guards at a young age since that will only increase the likelihood of wearing them as they mature through sports. Make mouth guards a part of your child’s sports equipment like shin guards in soccer or batting helmets in baseball.

A local dentist recounts the story of a patient who played tennis for her high school team. During practice, she was hit in the face while picking up tennis balls and fractured a tooth. While no one is suggesting that tennis players should be required to wear mouth guards, the story proves that accidents can happen in any sport, and the potential cost of replacing a single tooth lost from dental trauma could be $5,000 or more.

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) requires mouth guards for field hockey, football, lacrosse (boys/girls) and wrestling. Detailed studies of mouth guards indicate they reduce dental injuries and cerebral concussions secondary to blows to the jaw or head.

Consider the alternatives before purchasing an over-the-counter mouth guard.