Protect Your Investment: Playing Sports With Braces
Investments need to be protected. Dental braces are definitely an investment—both in the actual cost of treatment, and the time you must commit to the treatment. Braces shouldn't hinder your daily life (aside from avoiding certain foods that can easily become trapped in your braces), so if you regularly play sports, you can keep doing so—provided your teeth and braces are well-protected.
The Best Protection
As you might have guessed, one of the best ways to protect your braces while playing sports is with a mouth guard. There can be considerable differences between mouth guards in terms of how much protection they offer. There are certain mouth guards marketed as being designed to protect braces.
Rigid or Adjustable
These are usually pre-made (rigid) or can be softened in warm water before being put over your teeth so that the mouth guard then molds to the shape of your dental arch and braces. While these basic mouth guards offer some security—when you consider your investment, don't your teeth deserve maximum protection?
Custom or Generic Mouthguard
Custom mouth guards for braces can, of course, be made by your orthodontist. But since your braces will not be modified or adjusted, you can have a custom mouth guard made by your dentist. But what makes a custom mouth guard made by a dentist different from a generic mouth guard you might buy online or at a drugstore?
Specifically for Your Teeth
The portion of a custom-made mouth that comes into contact with your teeth will be shaped specifically for your teeth, with adequate clearance space to accommodate your braces. Certain other protections will then be incorporated into the design of your mouth guard.
Design Features
Your new custom-made mouth guard will feature special rims designed to rest against the interiors of your lips. This slightly raises your lips and prevents them from coming into contact with your braces, protecting you from tissue damage if you were to experience an impact. The mouth guard can also have air pockets deliberately incorporated into its design for extra cushioning.
When you think about the money and time involved in orthodontic treatment, it becomes clear that you shouldn't cut corners when it comes to protecting your investment. Any mouth guard is better than none—and this is true when playing sports, regardless of whether you have braces. But your teeth and braces deserve the maximum amount of protection you're able to provide, and this involves a custom-made mouth guard.
To learn more, contact a custom mouth guard dental supplier such as Dream Dental Solutions.