WHY ARE SPORTS MOUTHGUARDS SO IMPORTANT?
When it comes to playing contact sports, protecting your teeth should be a top priority.
Dental injuries are far more common than you may realise, with the British Orthodontic Society estimating that between 13-39% of all dental injuries are sports related.
For children, these risks are even more pronounced, with roughly 25% in the UK experiencing dental trauma, such as injuring or losing a front tooth.
This is where sports mouthguards come into play. But why are they so important, and how can they keep your smile safe?
Preventing dental injuries
One of the primary benefits of wearing a mouthguard during sports is the protection it provides for your teeth. High-impact activities like rugby, hockey, and boxing expose athletes to the risk of sudden blows to the face.
Without a guard, the force of these impacts can bring the teeth together with enough sudden force to cause serious injuries such as:
- Chipped or broken teeth
- Knocked-out teeth
- Fractured roots or jawbone damage
A mouthguard acts as a cushioning layer between your teeth and the impact, significantly reducing the risk of these painful and costly injuries.
Reducing soft tissue damage
Mouthguards do more than just protect your teeth. They also help keep the soft tissues of your mouth safe.
When struck, your teeth can cut into your lips, cheeks, or tongue, causing painful and sometimes costly injuries.
A mouthguard serves as a protective barrier, minimising the risk of soft tissue damage.
Protecting the jaw and reducing concussions
Beyond safeguarded your teeth and soft tissues, a sports mouthguard also helps to protect your jaw from serious injuries.
A blow to the face can easily lead to a fractured or dislocated jaw. However, custom-fitted mouthguards, in particular, offer shock absorption that spreads the impact across a wider area, reducing the risk of injury to the jaw and potentially lowering the chance of concussions.
Benefits of a custom-fitted mouthguard
While store-bought “boil-and-bite” mouthguards are an option, they lack the protection of custom-fitted options.
A Protex mouthguard, made bespoke to each patient, is custom-crafted to precisely fit the unique contours of your teeth, providing unmatched comfort and protection.
Their snug fit over the teeth means they’re much less likely to slip or cause irritation, allowing for comfortable wear over extended periods.
There are two variations of Protex mouthguards available:
Standard Protex: A dual-laminate guard offering an excellent level of protection, suitable for all types of sports.
Professional Protex: A tri-laminate guard with an impact-resistant inner layer. This is designed to provide the highest level of protection.
Personalise your Protex mouthguard
With Protex, you can create a mouthguard that’s not only protective but uniquely yours.
Each Protex mouthguard can be personalised with custom designs (subject to copyright). This means you can showcase team colours, patterns or logos.
This level of customisations ensures your mouthguard isn’t just functional, it reflects your personal style or team spirit.
Protect your smile – get a Protex mouthguard today
At S4S, we specialise in crafting high-quality, custom-fit mouthguards that provide maximum protection for athletes.
This means you can focus on your game without worrying about dental injuries.
Speak to your dentist today to learn more about getting a Protex mouthguard through S4S, and give your teeth the protection they deserve.