Sports guards, also known as mouthguards, are among the most effective and underutilized dental protective devices available to athletes of all ages and skill levels. A properly fitted sports guard can prevent chipped, broken, and knocked-out teeth, jaw fractures, and soft tissue injuries during contact or collision sports. Dental injuries during physical activity are common but, in most cases, entirely preventable with appropriate protection.
At Ardagh Family Dentistry in Barrie, custom sports guards are part of a comprehensive range of preventive dental services designed to protect patients of all ages from oral injury, whether on the field, ice, or court.
Why Are Sports Guards Important?
Dental trauma during sports is more prevalent than most people realize. Studies consistently show that athletes who do not wear mouthguards are significantly more likely to suffer orofacial injuries than those who do. Common sports-related dental injuries include:
- Fractured, chipped, or cracked teeth
- Knocked-out (avulsed) teeth
- Tooth intrusion where the tooth is forced into the jaw
- Lip, tongue, and cheek lacerations
- Jaw fractures and temporomandibular joint injuries
- Concussions, which some research suggests may be partially mitigated by proper mouthguard use
Many of these injuries are painful, expensive to treat, and in the case of knocked-out permanent teeth, can have permanent consequences if not addressed within minutes of the injury occurring.
Which Sports Require a Mouthguard?
While most people associate mouthguards with contact sports, the need for dental protection extends to a wider range of activities:
High-contact sports where mouthguards are essential:
- Hockey, rugby, and American football
- Martial arts and boxing
- Lacrosse and field hockey
Moderate-contact sports where mouthguards are strongly recommended:
- Basketball, soccer, and volleyball
- Wrestling and skateboarding
- Cycling on trails
Individual sports where mouthguards are beneficial:
- Gymnastics, weightlifting, and mountain biking
If there is any risk of contact with another person, the ground, or sports equipment, a mouthguard is a sensible precaution for any athlete.
Types of Sports Guards: Which Is Best?
Not all mouthguards are created equal. There are three main categories:
Stock Mouthguards
These are purchased off-the-shelf in sporting goods stores and come in limited sizes. They are the least expensive option but provide poor fit, minimal protection, and can interfere with breathing and speaking. They are not recommended for serious athletes.
Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards
These are softened in hot water and then shaped by biting into them. They offer better fit than stock guards but still fall short of the protection provided by custom-fitted guards.
Custom-Fitted Mouthguards
Fabricated by a dental professional using an impression of the patient’s teeth, custom sports guards provide the highest level of protection, the best fit, and the greatest comfort. They are designed to the exact contours of an individual’s bite.
The sport guards service at Ardagh Family Dentistry allows patients to receive a professionally fabricated mouthguard that fits precisely and provides maximum protection during physical activity.
Custom vs. Over-the-Counter Mouthguards: A Comparison
| Feature | Custom-Fitted | Boil-and-Bite | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fit | Precise to the individual | Moderate | Poor |
| Protection | Highest | Moderate | Minimal |
| Comfort | Excellent | Fair | Poor |
| Breathing | Unobstructed | May be affected | Often difficult |
| Durability | Long-lasting | Moderate | Limited |
How a Custom Sports Guard Is Made
The process of receiving a custom mouthguard from your dental provider is straightforward:
- Impression or digital scan: Your dentist takes an impression or digital scan of your upper teeth.
- Laboratory fabrication: The impression is used to create a precise model, from which the mouthguard is fabricated using high-quality thermoplastic material.
- Fitting appointment: The finished guard is fitted and adjusted to ensure it seats properly, covers the appropriate teeth, and does not interfere with breathing or speaking.
- Care instructions: Your provider will explain how to clean, store, and maintain the guard for maximum lifespan.
The entire process typically requires two appointments and takes approximately one to two weeks.
Ardagh Family Dentistry is located at 225 Ferndale Dr. S., Unit 7, Barrie, ON L4N 6B9, in the Circle K Plaza. It is a trusted dental clinic in Barrie offering fully equipped, wheelchair-accessible facilities and family-focused care for patients of all ages. The clinic accepts new patients and CDCP (Canadian Dental Care Plan) patients and can be reached at +1 705-315-0219 or at info@ardagh.ca.
Sports Guards and Braces: Special Considerations
Athletes wearing fixed orthodontic appliances require special protection, as brackets and wires can cause serious lacerations to the soft tissue inside the mouth in the event of a blow. Custom sports guards can be fabricated to fit over braces and provide protection to both the orthodontic appliances and the surrounding soft tissue.
If you or your child wears braces and participates in sport, speak with your dental provider about the appropriate guard design. Off-the-shelf guards are generally not appropriate for patients with orthodontic appliances.
Caring for Your Sports Guard
Proper maintenance of a sports guard extends its lifespan and ensures it remains hygienic:
- Rinse the guard with cool water before and after each use
- Brush the guard gently with a toothbrush and mild soap after each use
- Allow the guard to air dry before storing it in its ventilated case
- Keep the guard away from hot water, direct sunlight, and heat sources, which can distort the material
- Bring the guard to every dental check-up so your provider can inspect it for wear or damage
- Replace the guard if it becomes cracked, torn, or ill-fitting
Children and teenagers who are still growing should have their guards assessed at least annually, or whenever their bite has changed noticeably.
What to Do If a Dental Injury Occurs
Even with proper protection, dental injuries can occur. Knowing how to respond quickly can significantly affect the outcome:
For a knocked-out tooth: Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root. Rinse gently if dirty, but do not scrub. Attempt to reinsert it into the socket if possible, or keep it in milk or between the cheek and gum, and seek emergency dental care within 30 minutes for the best chance of reimplantation.
For a chipped or cracked tooth: Rinse the mouth with warm water, save any large fragments, and contact your dental provider as soon as possible.
Ardagh Family Dentistry offers dental extraction services and root canal treatment for more serious dental injuries, as well as crowns and bridges to restore teeth damaged during physical activity.
Preventive Dental Care Beyond Sports Guards
A sports guard is one component of a comprehensive approach to preventive oral health. Ardagh Family Dentistry offers a full range of preventive dental care services, including dental sealants, dental cleanings, and digital radiography for accurate diagnosis and monitoring.
For patients with dental anxiety who find regular dental visits difficult, dentistry with nitrous oxide is available at the clinic, ensuring that preventive care remains accessible and stress-free for the whole family.
Other protective devices, such as night guards for bruxism, are also available, addressing both daytime and nighttime oral health risks comprehensively.
For patients interested in smile enhancement, the best teeth whitening in Barrie services and dentures are among the many services offered at the clinic, making Ardagh Family Dentistry a full-service dental office in Barrie for patients of every age and background.
All dental professionals at Ardagh Family Dentistry are registered with the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO), ensuring care is delivered to the highest clinical and ethical standards in Ontario.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How often should I replace my sports guard? Custom mouthguards should generally be replaced every one to three years for adults. Children and teenagers who are still growing may need annual replacement to accommodate changes in their bite and tooth development.
Q2: Can I wear a sports guard with braces? Yes, but an off-the-shelf guard is not appropriate. Your dentist can fabricate a custom guard designed to fit over your orthodontic appliances, providing effective protection for both the braces and the soft tissues of the mouth.
Q3: Do sports guards prevent concussions? While there is ongoing research in this area, the current evidence suggests that properly fitted mouthguards may help reduce forces transmitted to the jaw and skull during an impact. However, mouthguards should not be considered a primary concussion prevention device.
Q4: How do I clean my sports guard? Rinse it with cool water before and after each use, brush it gently with a toothbrush and mild soap, allow it to air dry, and store it in a ventilated case. Avoid hot water, which can distort the shape of the guard.
Q5: Is a custom sports guard worth the extra investment compared to an over-the-counter option? For most athletes, yes. Custom guards provide superior fit, comfort, and protection compared to any over-the-counter alternative. They also allow unobstructed breathing and speaking, which is important for both athletic performance and safety.
Conclusion
Sports guards are a simple, proven, and accessible means of protecting your teeth, jaw, and soft tissues during physical activity. For the best protection available, a custom-fitted mouthguard from a licensed dental professional is the recommended choice for athletes of all ages and levels. If you participate in any sport that carries a risk of oral injury, consulting with a qualified family dentist in Barrie or top dentist in Barrie at a trusted best dental clinic in Barrie is the straightforward next step toward protecting your smile every time you compete.
