Lititz, PA family dentists Dr. John and Dr. Sara Gotwalt want to put smile protection at the forefront of your dental health conversation, emphasizing the important role of custom mouth guards when playing contact sports.
Chances are that if you or your child play a sport currently or have played one before, you are intimately familiar with the annoyance that the average store bought mouth guards can be when it comes to fit and comfort.
We understand that store-bought mouth guards often don’t fit properly and can be distracting during a game, but we also want you to know how important it is for you to wear one. If you were to be hit in the mouth during a contact sport, mouth guards can absorb most of the force and protect your teeth, lips, and tongue from injury. In order for mouth guards to accomplish this, they must fit properly.
A well-fitting mouth guard allows you to speak and breathe and stays in place during activity. Your dentist can create a custom-fitting mouth guard that is both comfortable and durable. These custom-fitting mouth guards afford you the best protection from broken teeth and, in some cases, can also improve athletic performance by reducing the amount of energy used clenching the jaw. There is a reason why professional athletes use custom fit sports mouth guards on the field!
If your child wears braces or has any type of dental appliance, a custom mouth guard will be more effective than a store bought option in protecting this “dental investment” during contact play and in the event of an accident.
Summer is almost over and fall sports practices will be starting before you know it! If you are interested in being fitted for a custom mouth guard, schedule an appointment with Dr. John or Dr. Sara Gotwalt in our Lititz, PA dentist office.