The autumn school term is on the horizon and with it comes the arrival of contact sports in schools. If your child is participating in hockey, rugby, martial art, squash, or any other intense physical activity this term, you may wish to consider an orthodontic mouthguard to protect their teeth.
How do orthodontic mouthguards protect your child’s teeth?
A custom-made mouthguard places the temporomandibular joint in the best physiological position, balancing the articular disk and the condyles (connecting elements between the bones) within it. This keeps the muscles on both sides of the joint in harmony when impact occurs. In contrast, a shop-bought ‘boil and bite’ mouthguard is prone to changing shape constantly and therefore cannot offer the same level of protection. As they are not made in the image of your child’s smile, the ill-fitting structure allows for excess space which in turn, exacerbates contact and impact.
Custom-made mouthguards created by an orthodontist are made by taking impressions (moulds) of your child’s teeth. These impressions form the basis for the design of the mouthguard, yielding a perfect fit. Here at Corner House, we are able to take these impressions digitally, eliminating the discomfort and hassle associated with alginate impressions. You can read more about the benefits of digital impressions here.
Increased comfort
Even though custom-made mouthguards are made with several layers of thermoplastic rather than a single layer, they are still thin enough to be comfortable, which means your child will find it easy to keep it in their mouths and communicate with their friends and fellow teammates. As mouthguards are made from impressions of the teeth, your child will find it easier to breathe and will not suffer from the notorious gag reflex, often associated with one-size-fits-all mouthguards.
Orthodontic mouthguards & incentivising your child
Just as it can be difficult to persuade your child to wear a helmet while riding a bike, it may be challenging to ensure that your child is wearing a mouthguard while partaking in contact sports. There are a variety of ways that orthodontic mouthguards can be customised including by colour, team logo and design, which may make it easier to incentivise your child to wear their mouthguard in school and at team training.
If you would like more information about custom made mouthguards for your child please do not hesitate to contact us.