With the year-round sports seasons in Singapore, we see dental injuries frequently. This includes injuries such as tooth fractures, intrusion, extrusion, and avulsion, as well as temporomandibular joint dislocation.
We know that mouthguards prevent trauma to the teeth and face1, and reduce the cost of treatment. If you or your child plays either a contact or non contact sport, a simple mouthguard can be a great investment in protecting your health.
Mouthguard types
When getting a mouthguard, you will likely be concerned with both cost and durability. For a child, how long a mouthguard lasts depends on how much they are chewed on (yes, many kids like to do this) and how quickly the wearer is growing. But most mouthguards should last at least a season for kids and adolescents, and possibly longer for adults.
At expatdental, we make custom sports mouthguards because they offer the best protection and comfort.
- Custom mouthguards – The best protection for your teeth during sports is a custom mouth guard. These are the most expensive but offer the best comfort and exact fit – this means you or your child are much more likely to wear them! Custom mouthguards are easily created in one of our Singapore clinics and no longer require the gooey impressions. We simply take a 3D scan of your mouth and teeth and then fabricate them from the scan.
- Boil-and-bite mouthguards – These types of mouthguards are purchased over-the-counter and require you to place the pre-shaped mold into boiling water. Once it is softened, the wearer bites into the mouthguard to help mold it to your teeth. While these mouthguards are less expensive, they are often thick and bulky and do not “stay put” during sports activities.
- Generic mouthguards – You can purchase a ready-to-wear one-size-fits-all pre-shaped mouthguard. Since all mouths come in different shapes and sizes, we don’t typically recommend these to patients, as it would be difficult to find a generic mouthguard that provides maximum security and comfort while playing sports.
Mouthguard care
Like all sports equipment, mouthguards should be cared for correctly to maximize protection and comfort. Keeping them clean is easier than you think! Follow these easy steps:
- Rinse immediately after wearing. This will remove debris and loosen any plaque that is stuck to the mouthguard.
- Brush the mouthguard with a toothbrush and soap. After rinsing your mouthguard, you can give it a light clean with a toothbrush and dish soap. Do NOT use toothpaste as it has an abrasive quality that could impact the mouthguard’s material. We would also recommend using a different toothbrush for cleaning so your normal toothbrush doesn’t get soapy.
- Lay your mouthguard on a clean surface and allow it to dry. If your mouthguard is wet or moist when you store it, bacteria can grow more easily. Allow the guard and case to dry before storing away.
- Always store your mouthguard when you are not wearing it. This helps you from losing your mouthguard, as well as keeps it away from small children and pets. It’s good to take note of where you are storing it as well as mouthguards should not be subjected to extreme hot or cold temperatures.
- Deep clean your mouthguard monthly. This is best done with an over-the-counter non-abrasive daily retainer cleanser. These are suitable for use on mouthguards, nightguards, sports guards, and retainers. Simply place your guard in a cup or bowl and allow the cleaner to dissolve completely into the water. Most cleaners will kill most bacteria in 5-15 mins. To help protect the mouthguard’s material, don’t over soak the guard and never soak a mouthguard in any liquid containing alcohol, such as mouthwash!
- Keep your case clean – Keep the mouthguard case clean by handwashing it every few days with regular dishwashing soap.
Need more information about sports mouthguards? Book an appointment with our international team of dentists in Singapore.
1https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(14)64802 9/fulltext#:~:text=To%20minimize%20the%20risks%20of,opposing%20arches%20from%20traumatic%20contact.
