Hopefully you are one of many health-conscious Murray residents who are 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 Murray gyms, specialty facilities, and Utah recreation departments in recent years.
With all these exciting ways to exercise becoming commonplace, people in the Sandy, Taylorsville, and Draper areas may not be aware of the tooth risks associated with them.
I’m Dr. Clint Blackwood, a concerned Murray 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, and volleyball, 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 Salt Lake City 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 Murray 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 Salt Lake City patients undergoing these treatments. Your Murray orthodontist may even suggest a mouth protector for your lower teeth as well.
If you have questions about sports dentistry in Murray or any other dental issues, please contact my office and schedule an appointment. I look forward to meeting you.
Clint Blackwood
Salt Lake Dental Care
279 E 5900 S Ste 202
Murray, Utah
801-938-8855
https://www.saltlakedentalcare.com/meet-dr-blackwood/
