Protect Your Teeth When Playing Sport

One of the best ways of keeping fit whilst having fun is by playing your favourite sport. From tennis and hockey to football and rugby, there are plenty of options to choose from. Some sports are more risky than others when it comes to injuries, with contact sports increasing the likelihood of injury. There are different ways to protect yourself when playing sport; shin pads and guards can be worn and some sports can even necessitate the wearing of a helmet to protect your head. Your teeth are an important area of your body to protect as broken or knocked out teeth are common amongst those who play sports, from football to skateboarding. Prevention is always better than cure and there are steps you can take to minimise the risk of damaging your teeth when playing sport. Dental repairs can be time consuming and costly so it makes sense to protect your teeth from damage in the first place. The most effective way of protecting your teeth from sports related damage is by wearing a mouth guard. Mouth guards can be worn by both children and adults. Anyone playing a contact sport should wear a mouth guard but it is important to remember that non-contact sports can present a risk too so it's often better to be safe rather than sorry. Mouth guards act in a cushion-like way to protect teeth from being knocked out, cracked, chipped or damaged in any other way. A mouth guard can also help to protect the whole mouth from damage, minimising risk to lip, tongue, tissue and nerve damage. Mouth guards are simply coverings which are worn over your teeth and tend to come in three main varieties; stock, 'boil and bite' and custom fitted. Stock mouth protectors come ready to wear and cannot be adjusted to fit your mouth. They can be purchased quickly and easily but are not viewed as the best mouth guard option because they cannot be customized to fit your mouth and therefore make talking and breathing difficult. Boil and bite mouth protectors can also be purchased over the counter but can be customised to fit your mouth, thus offering a better fit. This type of mouth guard is made from a thermoplastic material which is placed in hot water to soften it. You then place the mouth guard in your mouth and shape it around your teeth. The third type of mouth guard is called a custom fitted protector and this is specifically designed to fit the wearer's mouth. A custom fitted mouth guard is made by your dentist, who will firstly make an impression of your teeth. A mouth guard is then moulded out of the impression, ensuring a perfect fit for your mouth and offering the best comfort and protection. If you regularly play sports and want to make sure you always have protection for your teeth then investigate the options offered by dental cover. Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com