In this world, nothing is without taint. Sure, you can take measures to preserve things, and even encase them in glass. But even the untouched, untainted displays of a museum are not without a light coating of dust. Life is to be lived, not preserved. That being said, it never hurts to heed caution. To quote Dead Poets Society, ‘there is a time for daring and there is a time for caution, and a wise man understands which is called for’.
This principle applies to playing contact sports. If contact sports bring you joy, you should absolutely play them. However, when playing contact sports, your teeth can be vulnerable to injury. And unlike skin, which can regenerate itself, teeth are irreplaceable. (Well, this isn’t entirely true. If you’re a kid, your adult teeth will replace your baby teeth. Moreover, you can replace teeth with prosthetics, but this is a worst-case scenario you should avoid at all costs.) So, how do we preserve our teeth without excessively preserving our life? The answer is simple: invest in a mouthguard.
Mouthguards are the ultimate compromise between ‘daring’ and ‘caution’. They could be the difference between a toothy grin and smashing a tooth right out of the (sporting) park. We’re not talking over-the-counter variants, either. We’re talking custom mouthguards that hug each unique curve of that smile of yours. Let’s talk about the importance of mouthguards.
What’s wrong with over-the-counter mouthguards?
Over-the-counter mouthguards are a wannabe one-size-fits-all solution. They think they’re covering a wide expanse of smiles, but they’re actually not expanding wide enough—literally. One-size-fits-all mouthguards often don’t extend to the back of the mouth. They are ill-fitting and, due to their literal shortcomings, they don’t necessarily offer full protection.
Why are custom mouthguards so much better?
For the same reason custom orthotics are better for your feet. Anyone can pick up a pair of cheapies from Target, but wouldn’t they be so much better if they were modelled off your actual foot? Be they orthotics or mouthguards, customised support products are going to be more effective, if more expensive. The good news is that you can typically claim these necessities on private health insurance. And, hey—if you don’t have private health insurance, think of them as a long-term investment in your health.
If you’ve ever invested in custom orthotics, you’ll know that the podiatrist takes plaster imprints of your foot, which is what the orthotics are modelled upon. It’s a similar process with custom mouthguards. Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth, which will inform the dimensions of a plaster model—which will inform the dimensions of your custom mouthguard. It’s a smart trefoil of a domino effect that provides the most personalised protection possible. You can even order yours in your favourite colour or pattern!
Worst. Plaster. Fun. Ever.
Because this is your custom mouthguard, you’re in control of the level of thickness, or whether it should have multiple layers. The beauty of custom mouthguards is they see—and can cater to—all shades of potential impact or trauma.
Where Can I get a Custom mouthguard?
Custom mouthguards are available for order at all good dental centres. If you’re after a recommendation, give Primary Dental a go. Primary Dental offers a range of dental services, from a standard clean and check-up to dental veneers (psst: the latter of which you could avoid by using a mouthguard. Just saying!). Order a custom mouthguard with these guys and you should receive it in just a few days! Why turn a toothache into a headache? Contact Primary Dental today and see what they can do for you.
