If you play impact sports or grind your teeth at night, you need to use a mouthguard to help protect your teeth. Here's what you need to know to ensure you choose the right mouthguard.
Types of Mouthguards
There are three common types of mouthguards:
Ready-made/stock mouthguards
These are the cheapest types of mouthguards, but they are not for everyone. Why? They are made in standard sizes, meaning that your teeth should be able to fit in them properly to enjoy maximum protection. Because of these standard sizes, if you have misaligned or crooked teeth, stock mouthguards might not be for you because they won't fit.
Additionally, they might not comfortably fit children; that is why you might hear that ready-made/stock mouthguards are not suitable for children.
Boil and bite mouthguards
These are the go-to over-the-counter mouthguards for most people. Even though they might be pricier than ready-made mouthguards, they fit better regardless of whether you have misaligned/crooked teeth or not.
What you do is dip the mouthguard in hot water to soften it. Once it is soft, bite down on it so that it takes the shape of your teeth. It also holds perfectly, meaning you don't have to keep your teeth together to offer support. This is a feature that is of great importance, especially when you need to talk during gameplay.
Custom-made mouthguards
These mouthguards are made by dentists, meaning that if you want the most comfortable or perfectly fitting mouthguards, this should be your choice. You might, however, need to visit your dentist to get custom-made mouthguards; you can't buy them over-the-counter.
What Factors Should You Consider When Buying Mouthguards?
Whether you have any dental condition
If you have a dental condition, it is recommended that you choose custom-made mouthguards. This is because your dentist gets to inspect your mouth, offer treatment and also provide a mouthguard that won't interfere with your condition.
Whether you need to speak during gameplay
If you need to speak to your teammates during gameplay, choose boil and bite mouthguards or custom-made mouthguards. These are the only mouthguards you don't have to support by biting down on them.
Comfort
A mouthguard should be comfortable to wear; otherwise, it would cause a lot of discomfort during gameplay, making you not perform at your best. An uncomfortable or ill-fitting mouthguard can also lead to mouth injuries.
Price
Consider this after you have considered the factors mentioned above; you shouldn't compromise quality for price.
