How a mouthguard from your dentist in Carson City, NV, can protect your smile
If you play sports, you may be wondering if you need a mouthguard. The answer is a firm YES! A mouthguard will protect your teeth and your smile from painful and costly damage. It’s easier than you think to break your teeth, especially if you engage in contact sports. A mouthguard can save your smile in case you get hit in the face, the head, or the jaw.
Dr. Jamie Marvel Melarkey of Marvel Dental in Carson City, NV, offers comprehensive dental care services, including providing mouthguards to protect your smile.
Many people try over-the-counter mouthguards, but these take a one-size-fits-all approach. They usually don’t fit well, and a mouthguard that doesn’t fit well doesn’t protect your teeth well.
Custom-fit mouthguards available from your dentist are different. They fit your smile exactly because they are made from molds of your teeth. When your mouthguard fits exactly, it means:
- It’s much more comfortable to wear
- It protects your teeth far better
So, who needs a mouthguard? According to the International Academy of Sports Dentistry and the American Dental Association, if you play these sports, you need to wear a mouthguard to protect your smile:
- Football or basketball
- Rugby or soccer
- Horseback riding
- Baseball or softball
- Weight lifting or volleyball
- Boxing or martial arts
- Ice hockey or skating
- Lacrosse or racquetball
- Water polo or gymnastics
Getting a mouthguard is easy. Your dentist simply makes molds of your teeth and lightweight plastic is vacuum-sealed over the molds, creating a mouthguard that fits like a glove.
Wearing a mouthguard can save you from the pain of broken teeth, and it can save you from the expense of fillings, crowns, root canals, and other restorative options to fix broken teeth.
When you play active sports, you are also in danger of having a tooth knocked out of position, or knocked completely out. Tooth replacement like bridges, partials, or dental implants are great solutions to give you back your smile, but when you wear a mouthguard, it helps you keep your own teeth so you don’t need tooth replacement.
To find out more about why it’s important to have a mouthguard and how it can protect your smile, call Dr. Jamie Marvel Melarkey of Marvel Dental in Carson City, NV, at (775) 884-3322. Call today!