OTTAWA, ONTARIO – With sports-related concussions on the rise, especially in young children and teens, a parent’s first thought is to buy the most technologically advanced helmet available.
While extra padding and a titanium face cage can go a long way, most people forget about or improperly use the most vital piece of equipment, the mouth guard, said Ottawa downtown dentist Dr. Pamela Li.
“The importance of an athlete wearing a mouth guard when playing almost any type of sport cannot be over emphasized,” said family dentist Dr. Li. “Today’s mouth guards aren’t just for protection. With advances in technology, they can improve balance, endurance and increase strength.”
Sports guards are acrylic dental appliances that are worn over teeth to provide protection for the mouth’s soft tissues (lips, cheeks, gums, tongue) and hard tissues (teeth and jaw bones).
There are several types of mouth guards available: stock, boil and bite and custom-made.
Stock mouth guards are available at most sporting stores, come in limited sizes and are least expensive and protective. They come ready to use, which means they are bulky and lack retention. They have to be held in place by biting down.
“Athletes that choose the stock guards are limiting their ability to speak and interfering with proper breathing,” said Dr. Li. “Often times they will cut the guard down for comfort, but what they are really doing is reducing the guard’s protective properties.”
Boil and bite mouth guards require you to boil the guard in water and form it to your teeth by using finger, tongue and biting pressure. They may not cover all the back teeth and athletes cut them down for a better fit.
“The biggest complaint people have of the boil and bite guards is that they cause gagging because they are so bulky,” said Dr. Li. “And once again cutting them down to fit reduces its purpose and can leave the athlete more vulnerable to injury.”
Custom-made guards are made by your dentist and address the important issues in the fitting of the mouth guard. Although it is the most expensive option, it offers the most protection and fit over guards on the shelves at the store.
While most benefits for wearing a mouth guard are easily seen when the player puts it in their mouth, others are not so obvious, said the snoring and sleep apnea professional.
The custom-made mouth guards can be designed to correct misalignment of the jaw, which enhances performance by increasing oxygen intake during physical activity and reducing tension in the jaw.
“Tension in the jaw created by misalignment prevents the body from working to its fullest potential,” said Dr. Li. “When muscles are relaxed and the airway is open, athletes experience improved balance, strength, agility and flexibility.”
Mouth guards can also help protect athletes from concussions. On the moment of impact, a player clenches their jaw muscles around the mouth guard, which in turn stabilizes the skull and neck. They also lessen the severity of injury as a properly fitted mouth guard creates a cushioning pocket of air between the jawbone and the skull, reducing the blow.
“Mouth guards protect more than then mouth, so wearing them is a no brainer,” said Dr. Li, who offers dental services for athletes.
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