Posted September 29, 2015.

Do you participate in high-contact sports or activities? If so, now is the time to consider wearing a mouth guard!

According to an article titled “Sports and Academic Performance” found on aapmd.org, when the lower jaw is placed in an ideal position, a more open airway and a calmer nervous system are achieved, which can increase endurance and better your performance.

There are many mouth guards available in the dental world today to do the job, but the most commonly used guards include the boil-and-bite and custom-made mouth guards. The boil-and-bite mouth guard is available at your local sporting goods stores and it is generally one of the least-expensive guards available. After you purchase this guard, you will put the appliance in a pot of boiling water. Once the appliance is softened, you will take it out of the water and put it into your mouth, biting hard on the guard. Use your tongue and fingers to apply pressure to the guard; this will help shape the appliance. When the guard cools, the material will harden as it is, which will be the shape and size of your smile. The custom-made mouth guard is created at your dental office. When you come into our office, your dentist will examine your smile and make impressions of your teeth and jaw. Then, will send those impressions to a dental lab where your guard will be created. Once the guard is made, it will be sent back to the office and given to you. This guard will give you the best fit and protection possible.

If your guard fits well and has the proper amount of thickness, your smile will be protected from the hard, forceful objects that hit it when you are participating in your high-contact activities. This helps prevent oral injuries, like chipped, broken, and fractured teeth. It also helps keep your airways open, which gives your body the oxygen it needs to perform at the highest level possible.

If you would like to know more about mouth guards and sports performance, we encourage you to call our office today and schedule an appointment with our friendly doctor. We are more than happy to help you increase your athletic performance by knowing about and wearing a mouth guard!