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Monday, June 17, 2019

Safe Sports Play With Boil And Bite Mouthguards

By Harold Lewis


Athletes of all ages know the need for safety gear when playing sports. Whether they are professional or simply playing for fun, they need to wear the gear to prevent injury on the field. High contact sports such as football, boxing, and martial arts all have special equipment that is required for competitive play. To protect the teeth, the most popular choice are the boil and bite mouthguards. These are designed to be easily formed to the player's teeth and provide maximum protection.

There are a couple of other types of guards. The most basic is not designed to be form-fitting. The most expensive and truly best type is created by a dentist. The dentist would take a mold of the athletes upper and lower teeth and custom design the guard. This is more expensive because of the extra effort to make them. This is usually recommended for players that have braces or some other form of non-removable dental equipment. Regardless of the type chosen, it is important that they fit well and not prevent easy breathing while being worn.

There are a couple of definite advantages to using the boil and bite guards. The cost is a little more than the basic but easily worth it. They are considerably less expensive than the custom fitted version. The way they fit the athlete's mouth is the biggest advantage. They form fit to the teeth, making the stick during play so they do not come out.

Getting the right form is easy. Start by boiling some water. Set the pan to the side and let it cool for just a few seconds. Put the guard in the water and hold it under for about a minute and a half. Lift them back out of the water and let them cool. They should be warm but not burning to the touch. Put them in your mouth quickly, making sure they are in the right position. Bite down hard. Hold this position while sucking the water out much like you would get the juice out of a popsicle. This removes the air and water from between your teeth and the material. After is done, let them sit on the counter to completely cool and you should have a great fit. If not, just start over and do the process again until they fit right.

They should be comfortable to wear. There should be no discomfort when you are wearing them at any time. If the ends go beyond the second molar, they may need to be carefully trimmed. If they feel like they are going to fall out, you should reform them. Most important is that breathing should not be inhibited while wearing them.

It is important to clean these after every use. The mouth has an enormous amount of bacteria. Clean them with a soft bristle toothbrush much like you would your teeth, using mild toothpaste. Rinse them when done.

Store them out of direct sunlight. Some will come with a small case, but others do not. In either case, store them where they can remain dry. Directly sunlight will cause damage or may melt them.

Being protected during intense sports play is important to prevent serious or permanent injury. Having a mouth guard that will protect your teeth will keep them from getting broken or chipped. Safe play is done with the right gear.




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