How To Wear A Mouthguard? Offering Highest Level Of Protection

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2 How To Wear A Mouthguard For Optimal Protection?

2.1 But how do you know if you’re wearing it correctly?

There are thousands of children who sustain dental injuries during sports training and matches every year, injuries that could be prevented through the simple act of wearing a custom mouthguard. Because of this, the Australian Dental Association recommends that children who play contact sportswear a mouthguard. Furthermore, children who wear braces need the additional protection to prevent or minimise cuts and other injuries caused by impact to their braces. But mouthguards are only effective when they are worn correctly. Today we’re going to explain how to wear a mouthguard so you have the best protection.

Why A Mouthguard Is So Important?

Thousands of children will experience injuries to their mouth and teeth on an annual basis, and those under the age of 25 are at the greatest amount of risk. Dental injuries can be difficult to treat and repair, and the associated costs are unnecessary when you consider how easy they are to manage with the correct safety gear.

Some of the most commonly sustained injuries include

Cuts to the tongue, gums, lips and cheeks
Broken teeth
Chipped and fractured teeth
Broken jaws
Knocked-out teeth

How To Wear A Mouthguard For Optimal Protection?

A custom mouthguard, fitted by your dentist, is the most effective way to manage injuries to your mouth and teeth because it is made to fit the size and shape of your mouth.

But how do you know if you’re wearing it correctly?

A well-fitted mouthguard should

Fit comfortably but snugly so that it doesn’t move around on impact
Enable you to speak normally
Enable you to swallow and breathe normally
Not trigger a gag reflex
Be tasteless and odourless
Have a minimum thickness of 4mm in order to offer you maximum protection.

Because size is so important for a good fit and for protection, children should change their mouthguards every 12 to 18 months. Mouthguards should be inspected regularly for signs of damage, wear and tear and should be replaced if this occurs. Children who wear braces may need to replace a custom mouthguard more often because orthodontics move teeth. As your braces work, you might notice the mouthguard doesn’t fit as well anymore.

How To Wear A Mouthguard?

Make sure the mouthguard is clean before use. Line it up with your top jaw and ease it over your teeth before pushing it gently but firmly into place. You should feel a bit of suction and it should feel stable. If it moves around, it isn’t in the correct position.

Make sure it’s in your mouth for all practice and training sessions, as well as matches. A mouthguard is as important as a helmet, or knee and elbow pads and should be considered an essential piece of safety equipment.

The cost of any injuries to the mouth and teeth will far exceed the cost of a mouthguard and is well worth the investment for active kids who are always on the move.

For more help with how to wear a mouthguard or to book a fitting for a custom mouth guard, please contact us:

Buderim: (07) 5317 1023
Caloundra: (07) 5315 8076