Mouthguards: Custom-Fit vs Boil & Bite

Why do I need a mouthguard?

The importance and necessity of a proper fitting mouthguard cannot be understated. The protection a mouthguard provides is dependant upon its design and fit. In order to receive the complete protective benefits of a mouthguard it is recommended you have your mouthguard made and fitted by a professional. The Australian Dental Association (ADA) recommends that only a professionally custom-fitted mouthguard should be worn.

Mouthguards consist of two types, either a store bought ?Boil and Bite? mouthguard or a custom-fitted mouthguard designed and fitted by a dental professional.

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The Benefits of Mouthguards

It?s common practice for those participating in contact sport to protect themselves against injury. Helmets, pads and shin guards are immediately reached for when looking for protection, but what about the humble mouthguard?

Why do I need a mouthguard?

With dental injuries being the most common orofacial injury in sports, oral protection should be a primary concern. It?s estimated that over three million teeth get knocked out every year during contact sports. Not only this but there are also a number of issues that can be caused by failing to wear a protective mouthguard. A mouthguard can prevent against tooth and jaw fractures, tooth displacement and even soft tissue injuries. A heavy impact, rough contact or a forceful blow to the face can easily result in any of these injuries.

Dental, mouth and tooth injuries can cause a great deal of grief, not only physically but financially too. The expense of purchasing and fitting a mouth guard pales in comparison to the expenses you would incur without one. Dental repairs due to physical trauma can be costly and lengthy affairs; some injuries you may never fully recover from.

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Tips for looking after your dentures

Correct denture care is not only vital to ensure the life of your dentures is a long and healthy one, but it is also important because the health of your mouth and gums will be affected too. The following are tips in caring and handling your dentures to ensure they are kept in good condition.

Handle your dentures with care, as you would any precious and fragile item. Dropping or hard impact to them will cause them to break or shatter. It would be wise to handle dentures while standing over a towel or a full sink of water for example.

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Why do teeth fall out?

With the advances in modern medical technology, dentures have improved in their appearance and performance. Dentures are false teeth in a sense, designed to discreetly fill the gaps that are created when teeth are pulled out or fall out. But why exactly does this happen?

Gum disease
According to the Academy of General Dentistry gum disease is the cause of approximately 70% of adult tooth loss, and three out of four people will be affected by it at some point in their lives. Severe gum disease can lead to bone loss in the upper gum which ultimately cause teeth to fall out. If your teeth move around, gaps between your teeth become bigger or adult teeth are ?loose? this may mean you have gum disease. Bleeding or swollen gums are also signs of gum disease.

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Dentures ? a brief history

It?s strange to believe, but early mankind had far fewer problems with their teeth. The introduction of more sugar into the average diet during the industrial era of the 18th century (sugar consumption per capita rose 500 per cent) saw a rise in the problems people faced in regards to the health of their teeth.

There is evidence to suggest that ancient Egyptians created their own form of dentures. They used gold wire to thread real human teeth into something of what we have come to know as a denture, in order to replace missing teeth. However to replace teeth in Mexico, animal teeth were used rather than human.

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