Why mouthguards are so important? Imagine what it would be like if you suddenly lost one or two of your front teeth. Smiling, talking, eating-everything would suddenly be affected.

Mouthguards also known as mouth protectors, help cushion the blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to your lips tongue, face or jaw. “Your top teeth take the brunt of trauma because they stick out more,” says Dr. Thomas Long the team dentist for the Carolina Hurricanes professional hockey team. “Your bottom teeth are a little more protected because they are further back.”

When Should You Wear a Mouth Guard?

When it comes to protecting your mouth, a mouthguard is an essential piece of athletic gear that should be a part of your standard equipment from an early age. While contact sports such as football, lacrosse, are higher-risk sports for the mouth, any athlete may experience a dental injury in non-contact activities too, such as gymnastics and skating.

Types of Mouthguards

The best mouthguard is one that has been custom made for your mouth by your dentist. However, if you can’t afford a custom-made mouthguard, you should still wear a stock mouthguard or a boil and bite mouthguard.
Custom made: These are made by your dentist for you personally. They are custom created for fit and comfort.
Boil and bite: These mouth protectors can be purchased at many sporting goods stores and drug stores and offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. They are first softened in water (boiled), then inserted and allowed to adapt to shape of your mouth.
Stock: These are inexpensive and come ready to wear. Unfortunately, they often don’t fit very well and they are bulky.