Several Advantages To Custom Mouthguards
When it comes to protecting your teeth during contact sports or managing conditions like teeth grinding or TMJ, investing in a quality mouthguard is essential. While it might seem convenient to grab one off the shelf at your local sporting goods store due to its accessibility and affordability, it’s important to recognize the potential drawbacks of this approach. Off-the-shelf mouthguards, though readily available, often lack the customized fit and tailored protection necessary to adequately safeguard your oral health.
Opting for a professionally fitted mouthguard offers several advantages over store-bought alternatives. Custom mouthguards are precisely molded to your unique dental anatomy, ensuring a snug and comfortable fit that maximizes protection and minimizes discomfort. Additionally, professional mouthguards are typically constructed from higher-quality materials, providing superior shock absorption and durability compared to their mass-produced counterparts. While the initial cost may be slightly higher, the long-term benefits of a custom mouthguard far outweigh any upfront savings, offering peace of mind and optimal protection for your teeth and oral tissues.
Why Even Wear a Mouthguard?
Wearing a custom mouthguard may seem like an additional chore in your daily routine, but its importance cannot be overstated. Beyond the inconvenience of sanitizing, wearing, and storing it, a custom mouthguard serves as a crucial safeguard for your oral health. By shielding you from potential oral injuries, tooth loss, and the harmful effects of concussions, it becomes an essential tool in preserving your smile and overall well-being. While the time and effort invested in maintaining a mouthguard may seem daunting, the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial inconvenience.
Even if you consider yourself cautious and careful, the unpredictable nature of accidents and injuries underscores the necessity of wearing a mouthguard. Rather than leaving your oral health to chance, embracing the consistent use of a custom mouthguard ensures proactive protection against potential harm. With proper care and adherence to wearing guidelines, a mouthguard becomes an invaluable asset, safeguarding your smile and providing peace of mind in the face of potential risks and injuries.
Here’s why we recommend custom made…
Custom mouthguards are properly fitted. Stock mouthguards are some sizes fits some…
Just as no two people have the same fingerprints, our dental structures are unique to each individual. Stock mouthguards, designed based on generic size charts, often fail to accommodate the diverse shapes and sizes of people’s mouths. Consequently, purchasing one increases the likelihood of an ill-fitting guard, which not only compromises its protective efficacy but also hinders ease of speech and breathing due to its bulkiness.
In contrast, custom mouthguards are meticulously crafted to match the precise contours of your teeth, using impressions taken by dental professionals. Whether fabricated in a dental office or a specialized laboratory, these guards offer a tailored fit, ensuring optimal comfort and protection. By conforming precisely to your dental structure, custom mouthguards alleviate discomfort and provide superior coverage, offering peace of mind during physical activities.
Custom Mouthguards are worn more often.
As you might guess, with anything that doesn’t fit, it’s going to be uncomfortable. When a mouthguard is uncomfortable, it has a much less chance of getting worn. If the mouthguard is not getting worn, chances go way up for oral injury and harm to your smile.
We don’t blame you for leaving that stock-made mouthguard in its case. Sadly, it’s a waste of money when not used. Custom mouthguards can be more expensive, but quality really outweighs quantity when it comes to your dental health.
What about Boil & Bite Mouthguards?
You might have seen the boil and bite mouthguards sold in sport goods stores. These have a higher possibility of giving you a better fit than stock ones, but still won’t give you a professional fit. They are made from thermoplastic and are placed in hot water to soften. Then you need to bite down on them to leave your dental impression.
These might be tempting to buy, but keep quality in mind. These won’t last as long as custom made mouthguards, making you spend more money in the long run.
Bottom Line for Custom Mouthguards versus Stock Mouthguards
At the end of the day, having any mouthguard is better than having no mouthguard. If you are short on cash or need to wait on your custom-made one, getting a stock mouthguard still works. The primary goal is to protect your smile! We hope this pushes you into wearing yours when necessary!
Looking for a mouthguard that provides the best fit, highest comfort, and most protection possible? Miami Valley Smiles can help. Contact us today to get started!
