Protective Devices

Lacerations to the lip, cheek & chin, fractures to facial bones, broken teeth & knocking out permanent teeth; can all be prevented if the correct Protective Device is worn.

Mouthguards

Did you know that 50% of traumatic dental traumas are caused by sporting injuries? You can prevent these severe injuries from occurring by wearing a mouthguard while playing sports. A mouthguard should be worn for all contact sports including: Football, Soccer, Hockey, Netball, Basketball, Squash and Boxing.

Your mouth is the only one of its kind and therefore your mouthguard should be unique. A custom made mouthguard will fit you properly and give you the level of protection you need and allow you to breathe and speak easily and freely.

Severe injuries can include:

• Lacerations to the lip, cheek and chin
• Fractures to facial bones
• Broken teeth
• Knocking out permanent teeth – A tooth lost, may be a tooth lost forever!

Mouthguard Awareness

www.ada.org.au/oralhealth/mouthguard.aspx

Mouthguards are a must have accessory for sportspeople wanting to give their teeth the best chance of surviving any surprise contact during team sport activities and their use is highly recommended by dentists.

There are NO guarantees because it is not possible to stop every injury and you should always seek specialist dental or medical advice.

The Australian Dental Association has established national Mouthguard Awareness to promote the benefit of wearing custom-fitted mouthguards during training and sports events. The week targets all contact sports including rugby, soccer, netball, hockey, squash and basketball.

The key objectives of Mouthguard Awareness include:

• To promote the wearing of custom-fitted mouthguards during training sessions and sport events
• To encourage sports coaches and sports associations to enforce a “No Mouthguard, No Play” policy.
• To educate the community on the benefits and cost-effectiveness of custom-fitted mouthguards
• To encourage and promote dental health to the public

Caring for your custom-fitted Mouthguards

• Wear the mouthguard
• Clean the mouthguard by washing it with anti-bacterial liquid soap and warm (not hot) water. Do not use solvents (alcohols, acids or enzymes) for cleaning
• Keep the mouthguard in the well-ventilated plastic storage box when not in use
• Heat is bad for mouthguards, so don’t leave mouthguard in the direct sunlight or in a hot car or through the wash or dryer
• Don’t bend the mouthguard when storing
• Don’t wear removable appliances such as retainers or dentures when playing sport
• Mouthguards are made specifically designed for an individual, do not share it
• Your mouthguard has been designed for one season’s use. Replace the mouthguard every season
• If under orthodontic care with braces, the mouthguard should be modified by the orthodontist during its fabrication to allow for additional orthodontic movement
• Call the dentist who made the mouthguard if there are any problems

Tooth Grinding & TMJ Problems

Often people who are under an unusual amount of pressure will deal with their tension and stress by clenching or grinding their teeth while sleeping. This can be prevented with the use of an Oral Split. To read more about Tooth Grinding & TMJ Problems, go direct to its dedicated page.