It seems that a lot of people are somewhat confused about the term ‘mouthguards’, so we thought we would jump in and clear things up a bit. Mouthguards are thin but sturdy coverings that protect your teeth from damage. If you are athletic and participate in contact sports like basketball and hockey, you are probably already familiar with the athletic type of this dental protector. Other mouthguards protect your teeth and dental work against the damage caused by nighttime grinding.
Over the Counter Mouthguards
Of course, not all mouthguards are created equal. Stock mouth guards are the types of devices that are pre-formed for the “average” wearer. They frequently mention gender and age to help the buyer find a guard that most closely fits the makeup of the oral cavity for which it is designed. Unfortunately, these types of guards are habitually very uncomfortable since there really is no average wearer. Every mouth is unique and the location of the teeth varies greatly, even between people of the same age, gender, and size. You have probably encountered one of these guards at some point in your life, and hopefully, it convinced you of the value of using a better mouthguard!
To learn more about the custom athletic mouthguards from SportingSmiles, click HERE.
Boil-and-Bite
Most regular mouthguard users will feel the need to explore a more fitted mouthguard option, for both their comfort and a better level of performance. There are essentially two options in this category: the boil-and-bite mouthguard, or the custom-fitted mouthguard. You have probably seen boil-and-bite mouth protectors at the local sporting good stores. The thermoplastic material gets softened when immersed in hot water.
Not all mouthguards are created equally! While stock and boil and bite mouthguards are an inexpensive option, they tend to be uncomfortable, bulky, and do not provide the optimal level of protection. Custom-fit mouthguards are often more expensive through your dentist, but the level of comfort and protection is much better. At SportingSmiles, we understand this importance and offer the same high-quality mouthguards but at a fraction of the price.
The wearer then quickly removes the mouth guard from the hot water and inserts it into their mouth. Biting down, the guard molds to the surrounding teeth. You need to keep some pressure on this device until the process is complete. Do not exert too much pressure, or you may just bite through the plastic. As the material cools down, it largely maintains the shape of the mouth. Some nuances are impossible to capture with this technique though.
Custom Fitted Mouthguards
By far the best solution for the mouth guard wearer is the custom-fitted product. Custom-fitted mouthguards come from an impression of your teeth using dental impression material. We use the impression to cast the mouthguard. While you could go to a dentist for casting and pay a large sum of money in the process, why would you? SportingSmiles has eliminated the middleman and allows you the same access to a professionally made custom mouth guard at a fraction of the price. We will send you an impression kit that you use to make a cast of your teeth. Instructions are included and the process is really very easy. Send the casting back to us and we will make your customized mouth guard.
We are confident that this guard is going to be the most comfortable you have ever worn. Find out more about this easy and inexpensive process by contacting us.
