A mouthguard is a cushioning orthodontic appliance made of flexible material that fits around your teeth.
It can help with the prevention of injuries that could severely impact your jaw, teeth and mouth. Think of a mouthguard as a helmet for your teeth.
In this article, we discuss mouthguards and why you need them, especially while having braces.
What are the advantages of a mouthguard?
As we mentioned earlier, a mouthguard is instrumental in cushioning a strong blow to the face. Without a mouthguard, you risk a severe impact that might result in a severe injury to the mouth and joints. Mouthguards act as a shock absorber that protects the teeth and lower jaw from potentially breaking. Furthermore, it prevents you from accidentally biting your lips, tongue or cheeks. Events like falling off a skateboard or an elbow to the face during basketball could leave you with chipped or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth or even tooth loss.
Why are mouthguards important when you wear braces?
Mouthguards are important pieces of protective equipment as they will protect your teeth and jaws while you are on the field playing sports. Generally, one should use a mouthguard when:
- Playing contact sports like volleyball, soccer, basketball or hockey
- When performing martial arts
- Engaging in non-contact recreational activities such as skateboarding, mountain biking, rollerblading or horse riding
Can you wear a mouthguard over your braces?
In short yes. A mouthguard can be worn over your braces. However, each case will be independently assessed and a decision on what is best is done on a case by case basis.
If you are considering braces or clear aligners, and would like to know how long you can expect treatment to last, why don’t you come into West Coast Dental Care for a consultation, and find out if you are the right candidate for one of our procedures? We will look at your options, and provide you with our honest advice. Book a consultation today. You can also read our recent article about adult braces here.
