Imagine what it would be like if you suddenly lost one or two of your front teeth. Smiling, talking,
eating—everything would suddenly be affected.
Mouthguards, also called mouth protectors, help cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of
broken teeth and injuries to your lips, tongue, face or jaw. They typically cover the upper teeth and
are a great way to protect the soft tissues of your tongue, lips and cheek lining. Knowing how to
prevent injuries like these is especially important if you participate in organized sports or other
recreational activities.
When it comes to protecting your mouth, a mouthguard is an essential piece of athletic gear that
should be part of your standard equipment from an early age. In fact, studies show that athletes are
60 times more likely to suffer harm to the teeth if they’re not wearing a mouthguard. While collision
and contact sports, such as boxing, basketball, football, are higher-risk sports for the mouth, you can
experience a dental injury in non-contact activities too, such as gymnastics and skating.
There are three types of mouthguards:
- Custom-fitted. These are made by Dr. Lim for you personally. They are more expensive than the other versions, but because they are customized, usually offer the best fit.
- Stock. These 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. These mouth protectors can be bought at many sporting goods stores and drugstores and may offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. They are first softened in water (boiled), then inserted and allowed to adapt to the shape of your mouth.