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What is a Mouth Guard?

A Mouth Guard is a removable device that is worn over your teeth to protect them when playing sports. Mouthguards are an important part of keeping your teeth safe during accidental (and sometimes deliberate!) knocks and trauma during sport. Sport Mouth Guards are made of a thermoplastic material that is soft and pliable when heated up and can be shaped to fit.

Why wear a Mouth Guard?

Dental professionals see too many teeth and facial trauma because of accidents during sports. It is such a preventable problem, and we are all responsible to make sure that it is a non-negotiable part of playing sport.

 The Australian Dental Association and Sports Medicine Australia have created a Mouth Guard policy that is recommended to be implemented in all Sporting Clubs and venues.

‘No Mouth Guard, No Play’

 https://sma.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ADASMA_mouthguardpolicy.pdf

Types of Mouth Guards

The 2 main types of Mouth Guards in use are Dentist made, custom fit Mouth Guards and boil and bite Mouth Guards that you can buy from the chemist.

• Custom fit Mouthguard
  • The most important property of a Mouth Guard is a snug and comfortable fit. This ensures minimal movement when there is contact on the teeth, provides shock absorption and distributes the shock around the mouth. A custom fit Mouth Guard is essential to achieve this.
• Boil and Bite Mouthguard
  • The boil and bite options are acceptable as a temporary Mouth Guard until you get a proper one done by your Dentist. The boil and bite Mouth Guard requires you to warm up the thermoplastic sheet and squish it around your teeth. It is impossible to get an accurate and comfortable fit and can become dislodged during sport.

How is a Teeth Mouth Guard made?

The custom fit Mouth Guards are made by firstly, doing a 3D scan of your teeth or taking a mould of your teeth. This scan/mould then allows the Laboratory to get a copy of your teeth exactly as they are. This model is then used to vacuum form a bilaminate Mouth Guard that is thicker, evenly formed and of excellent quality. You can even choose colours, labels and customise it in many ways!

How do I clean my Mouth Guard?

Anything that stays in your mouth for extended periods of time can build up bacteria. This is why it is very important to keep your Mouthguard clean. After using your Mouthguard, you need to rinse it with water (do not use warm/hot water, it can change the shape of your Mouthguard). Depending how often you use it, use some non abrasive soap and a separate soft toothbrush to give it a clean. Then place the Mouthguard in a disinfectant bath for approximately 30 minutes. The disinfectant bath can be denture cleaning tablets or white vinegar diluted with water. You can also buy appliances that are an ultrasonic cleaner to keep it very clean.

After disinfection, you can keep your Mouthguard out to air dry and once dry, store it somewhere cool, away from pets and sunlight. Make sure you don’t keep it closed because it can grow bacteria and mould.

Interested in Mouth Guards?

Contact us now on (03) 8899 6331 or check out our other services here.

Need help with your dental payments?

We have a variety of Payment Plans available – giving you the flexibility of paying for your Mouthguard later.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much do Mouth Guards cost?
  • A typical, custom-fit bi-laminar mouthguard will cost about $200 or more to construct, depending on your customisation options
  • Some health funds, such as HCF, offer some of it’s members an included mouthguard as part of their dental extras.
• How long do Mouth Guards last?
  • A mouthguard, if kept clean, can last several sporting seasons. That said, if your child is growing and is constantly losing teeth – you will find a new mouthguard is required yearly for the best fit.
• How long does it take to make a Mouth Guard?
  • Typical mouthguard construction from the scan/impression appointment to delivery is usually about 2 weeks
• Can I use it for my teeth grinding and snoring?
  • No! Do NOT use a sports mouthguard for teeth grinding or snoring! These are completely different appliances and when used incorrectly, will cause more problems.