Is a mouth guard important when playing sports?

During any physical activity there is risk of injury. A well-fitted mouthguard minimizes the risk of injury to the tongue, lips, and cheeks, and protects teeth from being chipped, fractured, or knocked out. Research shows that most sports-related dental injuries occur when athletes are not wearing mouthguards.

Children and adults involved in contact sports — soccer, boxing, ice hockey, football, basketball, field hockey, gymnastics, wrestling — should wear one. It also helps for activities like skateboarding.

There are three main types. Stock: the cheapest, from any sporting-goods store — but bulky, uncomfortable, barely adjustable, and can make breathing harder. Boil-and-bite: also widely available, softened in hot water and shaped in your mouth — a better fit than stock. Custom-made: the most comfortable, best-fitting, and most protective, fitted at your dentist’s office from an impression of your mouth. At Serenity Dental we use advanced Dentsply Drufomat-Scan technology to make custom-fitted mouthguards.

The range is about $100–$140 at most dental offices, as it involves lab work — a small price next to repairing a fractured front tooth.

Run it under cold water before and after every use; clean it regularly with dish soap and a toothbrush; keep it away from high temperatures and direct sunlight; and always store it in its container.