• Rinse it with cold water or mouthwash, before and after use. You can clean it with
a toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Clean the mouthguard in cool, soapy water and rinse thoroughly, once a week.
• Keep the mouthguard away from high temperatures, hot water, hot surfaces, or
direct sunlight.
Monthly Archives: September 2015
How to Care for your mouthguard
Gingivitis and bleeding gums and inflamation – OH MY!
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums that we often see as bleeding during brushing and
flossing. It is the mildest form of periodontal disease that is reversible.
It is important to angle your toothbrush to remove the plaque close to and under the gums. Once you remove the plaque consistently you can cure gingivitis.
What type of moutguard is right for you?
1. Stock – Least expensive – Readily available in most sporting goods stores – Often bulky and uncomfortable – May interfere with breathing and speech – Must be held in position by
clenching the teeth together – May not stay in place in mouth
2. Boil and Bite – Slightly better fit – Readily available in most sporting goods stores – May not stay in place in mouth – May interfere with speech
3. Custom-made – Best fitting – Most protective – Stays in place in mouth – More expensive – Requires visit to dental clinic – Vacuum formed using a cast of the mouth
Evolution of Mouth Protection in Sports
Year Event
1913 boxing 1st sport to introduce mouth protection
1960 Nat’l Fed State H.S. Assns mandates face guards for high school football
1962 Nat’l Alliance Football Rules Cmt mandates mouthguards for high school football
1974 Football Rules Cmt of NCAA mandates mouthguards for college football
1976 College hockey mandates mouthguard use
1983 Nat’l Academy for Sports Dentistry established
1990 NCAA mandates mouthguards be a visible color
4 reasons to wear a mouthguard when playing sports
Mouthguards:
1. Reduce the chance of teeth being knocked out, chipped or fractured.
2. Protect the lips, cheeks, and tongue from being cut or bruised by the teeth.
3. Protect against jaw fractures by absorbing energy from traumatic blows to the chin,
preventing upward & backward movement of the lower jaw.
4. May protect against brain concussions by cushioning shock from a blow to the jaw and preventing transmission of the shock through the TMJ to the skull
Play hard but play smart!
Protect yourself and your children with a mouthguard.