A mouth guard is a protective plastic appliance worn over your teeth, which protects them and the rest of your mouth from blows to the face and head. Anyone who participates in contact sports, competitive or recreational, will benefit and should wear a mouth guard. This includes football, rugby, baseball, soccer, hockey, and basketball or any other sport that might result in an injury to the mouth. More than 200,000 injuries to the mouth and jaw occur each year. However, by simply wearing a mouth guard this number will decrease and serious head injuries such as concussions, cerebral hemorrhages, incidents of unconsciousness, jaw fractures and neck injuries can be prevented. Most mouth guards protect by covering your upper teeth and moving the soft tissue in the oral cavity away from your teeth. Usually it is not necessary to cover the lower teeth unless you have braces or other fixed dental appliances. Ask your dentist to be sure.

There are 3 different types of mouthguards to choose from.

• Custom-made: Formed by your dentist from a cast model of your teeth. They are more expensive but they offer the best possible fit and are the most comfortable.
• Mouth-Formed: Made of acrylic gel or thermoplastic materials shaped to fit the contours of your teeth. They are placed in boiling water and then formed and molded to your teeth by biting down on the warm plastic. They are commercially produced and do not offer the same fit and protection as a custom fit but if directions are followed carefully the fit will not limit breathing or speech.
• Ready-Made or Stock: Made of polyvinyl or rubber these come pre-formed and ready to wear. They are inexpensive as they offer no attempt at fit and can be bulky and may make breathing and talking difficult. They are not recommended in dental literature.

Whichever mouth guard you choose it should be resilient, tear-resistant and comfortable. It should stay in place during contact and the various positions your sport requires. But most importantly not restrict your breathing or speech.

A mouth guard should be considered a regular piece of your sporting equipment and like all equipment proper care will make it last longer. Rinse your mouth guard with soap and water or mouthwash after each use and allow it to air dry. A mouth guard should last the length of a season, however if the athlete has a tendency to chew on it, a new one may be needed sooner. The condition of your mouth guard should be checked before each use and may be further checked by your dentist if you feel it necessary. Mouth guards should be replaced each season because they can wear down over time, making them less effective. Replacement is especially important for children and adolescents because their mouths are still growing and their teeth are continuing to develop.

For more information, please feel free to contact us.

Get the facts

• The average man will lose 5.4 teeth by the time he reaches the age of 72. If he smokes, that will increase to 12!
• Three quarters of all North American adults have gum disease.
• 90 million North Americans suffer from bad breath. The most common cause is poor dental hygiene.
• 75% of adults believe that an unattractive smile can hurt our career.

Since we are often embarrassed to admit that we could use some instruction, most of us will go our entire lives without adequate daily dental hygiene routines.

Proper brushing takes at least 2 minutes and involves cleaning your tongue and massaging your gums. If that doesn't sound like what you are doing every day then ask us and we can help. Our dental hygienist would be happy to give you instruction and provide you with the proper tools.

Regular visits to the dentist including exams and cleanings are essential in maintaining good dental health. Dental exams check for more than just cavities. We will look for signs of gum disease, oral disorders (including cancer) and check your bite.

Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss and at least three quarters of us will be affected by it in our lifetimes.

Dr Ross will be away the week of June 28^th and the last week of August.

Dr Tarta will be available for emergencies, as well as her regularly scheduled appointments during all these other times.

PIPEDA or the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act took effect in January 2004. We have an information sheet on how our office uses and protects your personal information that we would like you to read when you come in for your next visit.

Medical Questionnaires. In an effort to best serve our patients, we have a new health questionnaire. If you have not completed the new form, please arrive a few minutes earlier for your next appointment. At least once a year we will ask you to review the information and sign again. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

We welcome new patients!