Mouth guards are an essential piece of equipment in contact sports. They should be worn by athletes of all ages who participate in sports such as football, lacrosse, wrestling, basketball, hockey, or boxing.
Wearing a mouth guard helps prevent against structural damage to your teeth and jaw and also helps prevent injuries such as lacerations to your cheeks, tongue, and lips. Mouth guards have also been shown to help decrease the risk of concussions.
Mouth guards are available in most any sporting goods store, but you should be careful when purchasing a mouth guard. Mouth guards like this do not offer the best level of protection. They are also usually ill-fitting and uncomfortable.
For the highest level of comfort and protection, you should visit your dentist for a custom mouth guard fitting. The custom mouth guards are made by a dental laboratory from a highly accurate impression your dentist takes of your teeth. A custom mouth guard is created specifically for each patient for the optimal protection of his or her teeth and mouth. The close fit of the custom mouth guard allows for easy breathing and can allow for easier communication.