The use of a brace is not a reason not to participate in any sport. Those who participate in sports that pose a risk of trauma to the jaw should use a protective mouth guard.
The durable plastic mouth guards are made so that the mouth guard fits snugly over the bracket system to protect the soft tissues in the mouth.
Protection options, types, features, and recommendations
In addition to eliminating sparring altogether while wearing braces, and practicing hard with a pear, there is one solution – protective mouth guards for teeth. A mouth guard is a special protective product that allows you to reduce mechanical stress on your teeth when they are hit. There are three main types of mouth guards:
- Standard. They are manufactured to a set standard, so they cannot fit absolutely everyone. These mouth guards usually fail to provide adequate protection and make it difficult to speak and breathe. Their use is not recommended by dentists, but they are cheap and are sold in almost all sports stores;
- Thermoplastic. The product is available in most sport stores and can be customized. The fitting process is done by the athlete himself by dipping the mouth guard in hot water, then the product is placed on the teeth and crimped with the fingers and tongue. Can provide more protection than the standard version, but are not able to withstand the high loads due to the material used;
- Custom-molded mouth guards. This is the best option for protecting an athlete’s teeth. A mouth guard is made in a dental clinic. Your doctor takes an impression of your teeth and then the mouth guard is molded from a high-strength, specialized material. After the mouth-guard has been subjected to final testing by the doctor, it can be used by the patient. However, it is the most expensive option of all.
