Hopefully you are one of many health-conscious Cary residents who is finding ways to get outside or to the gym and get moving. There has been an explosion in the variety of activities offered by personal trainers, all-purpose Cary gyms, specialty facilities, and North Carolina recreation departments in recent years. With all these exciting ways to exercise becoming commonplace, people in the Apex NC, Cary, and Morrisville areas may not be aware of the tooth risks associated with them.
I’m Dr. Allan Acton, a concerned Cary family dentist and fitness enthusiast, and I want to talk to you today about mouth protectors.
You might think that mouth protectors are only for ultimate fighters and football players, but actually mouth guards can and should be used during any activity where a blow to the face is possible.
This includes many common sports such as pick-up basketball games, volleyball, gymnastics, and bicycling. When you have a properly fitted mouth protector, you can prevent broken or lost teeth as well as lip, tongue, and jaw injuries.
Mouth protectors come in three main types: stock, boil and bite, and custom-fitted. The stock mouth protectors are pre-formed and ready to wear. Unfortunately, they rarely fit well. You can find boil and bite mouth protectors at sporting goods stores in the Apex NC area. They are to be softened in water and then formed to your mouth (make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions). Custom-fitted mouth protectors can be made by your Cary dentist to make sure you have a perfect fit.
The soft tissues that line your cheeks and lips are especially susceptible to injury when you have braces or fixed bridge work, not to mention the damage that can be caused to the orthodontic appliances themselves. For these reasons, a mouth protector is extremely important for Apex NC patients undergoing these treatments. Your Cary orthodontist may even suggest a mouth protector for your lower teeth as well.
If you have questions about sports dentistry in Cary or any other dental issues such as dental implants for teeth whitening, please contact my office and schedule an appointment. I look forward to meeting you.
Cary Family Dental
