Sports Protection Gear (How To Fit A Mouthguard)

If you had ever played in contact sports, you would know the importance of wearing a sports mouthguard. This article will talk about how to fit a mouthguard properly and the benefits of wearing one. After reading the article, click on this link to learn about a similar topic on how athletes should protect their general and dental health.

What is a sports mouthguard

A sports mouthguard is a piece of moldable plastic that is meant to fit over a person’s teeth to protect the teeth while the person participates in a sport. Usually, the players of contact sports such as football, basketball, martial arts and wrestling require the use of sports mouthguards.

The importance of wearing a sports mouthguard

There is a higher risk for a person to sustain damage to teeth if a mouthguard is not worn while a contact sport is being played. Having teeth knocked out during games is a regular occurrence, and can be avoided if a person wears a sports mouthguard.

Dental trauma is the most significant risk for these sports. Statistics say that even sports that are not considered to be contact sports may have a chance of tooth damage if the conditions are right. If a baseball comes hurling at one’s teeth, the impact may also cause some level of tooth damage.

How to fit a mouthguard

Fitting a sports mouthguard is easy. After buying it from the sports center or shop. There are only a few simple steps one has to follow to get the mouthguard to fit snugly over the teeth, to protect them.

Prepare the needed things

There are a few things needed before one can fit their mouthguard. The essentials are a mug of hot water, a glass of ice water, some paper towels, a pair of tongs and the mouthguard itself.

Dip the mouthguard in hot water

The first step is to dip the mouthguard in hot water. Let it stay in the water to soften for around a minute. Be sure to use the tongs so as not to burn yourself.

Fit the mouthguard over the teeth

After a minute in hot water, the mouthguard will be soft enough to be molded to fit over your teeth. Use the tongs to fish the mouthguard out, and dip it for one to two seconds in the ice water, to cool it down a little before putting it into your mouth.

Once the mouthguard is around your teeth, make sure there are no folds and that it is fitted correctly. Let is set on your teeth for around a minute.

Dip it in ice water

When you are satisfied with the fit of the mouthguard, dip it in the ice water for around a minute. This will help it set into its final shape.

Repeat if necessary

If you are not satisfied with the results, or if there are folds in the mouthguard that formed when you put it into your mouth, you can repeat the process until you are happy with the results.

Here is a video to show roughly how the process is done.

Final thoughts

For an athlete, keeping their head in the game is very important. This is why wearing a sports mouthguard is essential. Wearing this type of protection for their teeth takes their mind off the safety of their teeth and helps them concentrate fully on their game.

Mouthguards are relatively easy to fit; it takes less than 10 minutes for the whole process. Children and adults who participate in sports, especially in contact sports and martial arts should be encouraged to wear a mouthguard to prevent any damage to their teeth during gameplay.