Safeguarding Your Smile During Sports and Activities
Being injured while playing sports is no longer regarded as a milestone. The advice to “buck up” and get back to the game is – we hope – something of the past as we have learned that sports injuries lead to major adverse health effects.
As it is for both physical and mental health, it is essential for athletes to maintain good dental health. Even while most sports-related tooth injuries can now be treated thanks to developments in dentistry, some mouth injuries can have devastating effects on athletes. The American Dental Assistants’ Association estimates that 15 million Americans experience sports-related dental injuries yearly. About 10% of athletes in any sporting season can experience a dental or face injury. If you are an athlete and suffered any dental injury while playing, leading to a misaligned jaw, contact a cosmetic dentist in Manhattan.
Mouthguards matter: Safeguarding your smile during sports and activities.
Using mouthguards is an effective way to protect your teeth and mouth from harm from participating in physical activity or participating in sports. They may also help in preventing injury brought on by teeth grinding, which can result in dental sensitivity and even loss of teeth.
Investing in a high-quality mouthguard is a great way to add an extra layer of protection, whether you’re a professional athlete, a teeth grinder, or just want to protect your smile. Doing this will proactively preserve your teeth and ensure your smile remains radiant and healthy for many years.
How do mouthguards function?
A mouthguard shields your teeth and the gums that surround them. The goal is to minimize or completely prevent any harm to the jaw, lips, or teeth. They can also help with stress absorption near the jaw.
In order to survive impact, your mouthguard should be strong enough to withstand tearing or breaking. The idea that mouthguards are uncomfortable is another common misconception. But if it is worn properly, you will continue to be able to breathe, speak, and engage in sports securely and enjoyably.
What kind of sports might benefit from mouthguards?
For all contact sports, it is advisable to use a mouthguard. There are more activities where face protection is suggested to reduce the risk of oral injury in addition to the ones where it is required as part of the uniform.
Make it a habit of thoroughly washing your mouthguard after every use, whether after a game or practice, and store it in a vented container.