National Facial Protection Month

McClellan Orthodontics

McClellan Orthodontics would like to take this month to remind our athletes to wear a mouth guard during recreational and organized sports.

A mouth guard is an essential piece of athletic gear that should be part of your standard equipment from an early age. Mouth guards prevent injuries to the bone and tissues around the teeth. A properly fitted mouth guard may be especially important for people who wear braces. A blow to the face could damage the brackets or other fixed orthodontic appliances. A mouth guard also provides a barrier between the braces and your cheek or lips, which will help you avoid injuries to your gums and cheeks.

Mouth guards are coverings worn over teeth, and often used to protect teeth from injury from teeth grinding and during sports. An effective mouth guard should be comfortable, resist tears, be durable and easy to clean, and should not restrict your breathing or speech. There are three types of mouth guards:

1. Stock mouth guards are preformed and come ready to wear. They are inexpensive and can be purchased at most sporting goods stores and department stores. However, little can be done to adjust their fit, they are bulky, make breathing and talking difficult, and they provide little or no protection. 
2. Boil and bite mouth guards can also be purchased at many sporting goods stores and may offer a better fit than stock mouth guards. The "boil and bite" mouth guard is made from thermoplastic material. It is placed in hot water to soften, then placed in the mouth and shaped around the teeth using finger and tongue pressure. 
3. Custom-fitted mouth guards are individually designed and made in our orthodontic office. Custom-made mouth guards are a little more expensive than the other types of mouth guards, but they provide the most comfort and protection.

Mouth guards should be used by anyone playing contact sports such as football, soccer, and basketball. However, even those participating in noncontact sports and any recreational activity that might pose a risk of injury to the mouth would benefit from wearing a protective mouth guard.   

If you're an athlete and a patient at McClellan Orthodontics, talk to Dr. McClellan and his team about selecting a mouth guard that will provide the right protection for you.