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April Is National Facial Protection Month

The month of April is National Facial Protection Month and as your orthodontist Westmont, promoting the use of mouthguards for athletic activities is our way of ensuring that one of the most vital parts of your face is protected. Many sports can lead to serious injuries, and protecting yourself with something as simple as a mouthguard can go a long way. Children age 7-11 are most vulnerable to sports-related mouth injuries, and athletes are 60% more likely to suffer harm to the teeth if they are not wearing a mouthguard. Mouthguards can help cushion a blow to the face and minimize the risk of broken teeth and injuries to your lips, tongue, face, or jaw. They are also important for those who wear braces, as teeth with braces are shifting more than normal ones and especially vulnerable.

Types of Mouthguards

The best kind of mouthguard is one that has been custom-made by a dentist or orthodontist, but any mouthguard is better than participating in a sport with unprotected teeth. Below are the different types of mouthguards:

  • Pre-made, stock mouthguards: available at most sporting goods stores, they are bulky and lack retention so they must be held in place by constantly biting down. Speech and breathing are affected due to this, making this mouthguard type less ideal
  • Boil-and-bite: the most commonly used type of mouthguard, one puts the mouthguard into boiling water and then into their mouth and the mouthguard will adapt to snugly fit the shape of the mouth
  • Custom-made: designed specifically for your mouth and teeth by your dentist or orthodontist, these are the best type of mouthguard to use. They check all of the boxes when it comes to adaptation, retention, comfort, and stability

The American Dental Association recommends that athletes participating in the following sports wear mouthguards:

  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Field Hockey
  • Football
  • Gymnastics
  • Ice Hockey
  • Lacrosse
  • Racquetball
  • Rugby Skateboarding
  • Skiing
  • Soccer
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling

Your orthodontist Westmont, Oakbrook Orthodontics, can create the perfect custom-made mouthguard for your specific needs that covers all teeth and provides sufficient depth to cover your jaw. Don’t take your teeth for granted, because in the case of an emergency accident you will be sorry that you did. Visit our website or give us a call today to take the next step towards complete facial protection!

Sources: Colgate, sharecare

Do not wait, contact us today for free and learn more.