| Do I need a mouth protector?
Anyone who participates in a sport that
carries a significant risk of injury
should wear a mouth protector. This includes
a wide range of sports like football,
hockey, basketball, baseball, gymnastics,
and volleyball.
Mouth protectors, which typically cover
the upper teeth, can cushion a blow to
the face, minimizing the risk of broken
teeth and injuries to the soft tissues
of the mouth. If you wear braces or another
fixed dental appliance on your lower
jaw, your dentist may suggest a mouth
protector for these teeth as well.
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What are the advantages of using a mouth
protector?
Accidents can happen during any physical
activity. A mouth protector can help
cushion a blow to the face that otherwise
might result in an injury to the mouth.
A misdirected elbow in a one-on-one basketball
game or a spill off a bicycle can leave
you with chipped or broken teeth, nerve
damage to a tooth or even tooth loss.
A mouth protector can limit the risk
of such injuries as well as protect the
soft tissues of your tongue, lips and
cheek lining.
A properly fitted mouth protector will
stay in place while you are wearing it,
making it easy for you to talk and breathe.
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Are there different types of mouth protectors?
There are three types of mouth protectors:
- Stock
Stock mouth protectors are
inexpensive and come pre-formed,
ready to wear. Unfortunately,
they often don’t fit
very well. They can be bulky
and can
make breathing and talking
difficult.
- Boil and bite
Boil and bite mouth protectors also
can be bought at many
sporting goods stores
and may offer a
better fit than stock
mouth protectors. They
should be softened in
water,
then inserted and allowed
to adapt to the shape
of your mouth.
If you don’t follow
the directions carefully
you can
wind up with a poor-fitting
mouth protector.
- Custom-fitted
Custom-fitted mouth protectors are
made by your dentist
for you personally. They are
more expensive
than the other versions,
but because they are customized
they
can offer a better fit
than anything you can buy off
the shelf.
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I wear braces. Can I use a mouth protector?
A properly fitted mouth protector may
be especially important for people who
wear braces or have fixed bridge work.
A blow to the face could damage the brackets
or other fixed orthodontic appliances.
A mouth protector also provides a barrier
between the braces and your cheek or
lips, limiting the risk of soft tissue
injuries.
Talk to your dentist or orthodontist about
selecting a mouth protector that will
provide the best protection. Although
mouth protectors typically only cover
the upper teeth, your dentist or orthodontist
may suggest that you use a mouth protector
on the lower teeth if you have braces
on these teeth too.
If you have a retainer or other removable
appliance, do not wear it during any
contact sports.
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Please note: The ADA does not provide specific answers
to individual questions about fees, dental problems, conditions, diagnoses,
treatments or proposed treatments, or requests for research. Information about
dental referrals, complaints and a variety of dental procedures may
be found here. You can also refer to our Frequently
Asked Questions page for answers to common questions.
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