Should I Always Wear A Mouth Guard When I Play Sports?

When it comes to mouth guards, you likely associate them largely with certain sports, like football or hockey. However, consider that millions of teeth are lost every year thanks to sport-related injuries. Here, we’ll look at how mouth guards protect your teeth while you play, and why it may make sense to invest in a few more, even if they’re the cheap drugstore variety.

Why Wear a Mouth Guard?

The biggest reason to wear a mouth guard in Lighthouse Point is because the vast majority of dental injuries are easily preventable. Lost and injured teeth due to trauma aren’t a one-time event. Even in the case of baby teeth that would eventually fall out anyway, the impact can ripple for years after the original loss.

If you lose a permanent tooth, you may need to wear a bridge or consider a dental implant. While both of these services offer safe, convenient, and remarkably durable replacement teeth, they also involve a significant investment of time (and, depending on your insurance plan, money).

When Should I Wear a Mouth Guard?

This does ultimately become a matter of personal preference. The official recommendations include standard sports like wrestling, rugby, and gymnastics, but it also includes less-associated activities, like weightlifting and squash.

If you’re concerned about your dental safety, especially if you suffer from a balancing condition (e.g., vertigo, etc.), a dentist in Lighthouse Point, FL can help you understand more about your options across the market. While it’s better to invest in a custom-fit mouth guard, all products offer some degree of protection. At Florida Smiles Dental, we can give you the advice you need to keep dental injuries at bay, no matter how active you are.