Athletic Mouthguards & Sportsguards – Ottawa, ON

Offering Better Protection to Keep Smiles Safe

Whether it is playing hockey, going for a run, or engaging in a game of soccer, sports can be a great way to stay in shape. Having the right gear to protect knees, heads, and shoulders is also essential. But have you considered what you can do to safeguard your smile? With sports-related injuries accounting for many emergency room and emergency dental visits, you can avoid becoming a statistic with the help of a custom-made athletic mouthguard. Call us today to learn how we can shield your pearly whites from serious trouble.

Why Choose Smyth Dental Centre for Athletic Mouthguards & Sportsguards?

  • Practice Serving Ottawa Residents Since 1985
  • Dental Experts with Decades of Experience
  • High-Quality Materials Used to Create Sportsguards

What is a Mouthguard?

When the mouth needs proper protection against hard hits and accidental falls, the only viable solution is a customized mouthguard. Designed using high-quality materials that absorb unwanted pressure to prevent damage to teeth and gums, these devices fit over your teeth to effectively safeguard your smile.

Not only are they effective in protecting pearly whites, but they can also minimize the damage to lips, gums, and other areas of your face. By choosing to wear a customized mouthguard, you can avoid spending time in a dentist’s chair seeking emergency help and instead, devote more of your time to playing the game you love.

Types of Mouthguards

At Smyth Dental Centre, we are pleased to provide customized solutions to help you and your family protect your smile, but there are other options on the market that many individuals attempt to use but without much success. The three most common types include:

Ready-Made Mouthguards

If you stroll through a local drugstore, you’ll find there are many ready-made mouthguards available. Designed as a one-size-fits-all solution, they are usually affordable and easily accessible. However, their lack of customization can cause many patients to give up on wearing them because they not only feel bulky inside the mouth but also make breathing more difficult. When playing a game, the ability to move one’s mouth, breathe, and speak is necessary, so wearing a mouthguard that hinders these actions may become less desirable.

Mouth-Formed Mouthguards

There are two types of mouth-formed mouthguards: one that is customized but produces a foul taste and odor, and the other, which is known as a boil-and-bite. You simply place the mouthguard in a pot of boiling water, allowing it to become more flexible so that you can bite down to create an impression. Although these options are flexible and “custom-made,” they maintain a bulkiness that is often unattractive and uncomfortable to wear.

Custom-Made Mouthguards

With a custom-made mouthguard, our dental team can work to create greater comfort, aesthetics, and maximum support because of the in-house dental impressions we will capture. Using these images to fabricate the mouthguard, you or your child will be fitted to ensure it feels comfortable inside the mouth and allows for easier speaking and breathing.

Mouthguard Care

When recommended for a mouthguard, you will be advised to take proper care of it if you want to avoid needing a replacement sooner rather than later.

You can do this by:

  • Never removing your mouthguard during a game
  • Not chewing on your mouthguard, as this can cause damage
  • Rinsing the mouthpiece with cold water to remove any dried saliva or debris
  • Using a toothbrush and toothpaste to thoroughly clean your mouthguard
  • Keeping it in a protective case when not wearing it
  • Keeping it away from anything hot, as it can warp the material
  • Maintaining regular checkups and cleanings by your dentist