3 Reasons Why You Should Consider Thermoplastic Mouth Guards In 2019
Posted on: 6 February 2019
So you've set a New Year's resolution to be more active and healthy. You've even decided to buy new cleats and return to the rugby pitch. But have you considered how to protect your teeth moving forward? Many contact sports expose players to the risk of blows near the mouth. Luckily, mouth guards absorb this impact and protect your teeth from damage.
For many years, mouth guards have been made from a flexible material called ethylene. Ethylene is combined with other elastic materials to form the end product ethylene vinyl acetate. As useful as ethylene has been for mouth guards, it has various shortfalls. For example, it tends to be too soft and thus cannot withstand heavy impact.
A better option for your mouth guards is using a thermoplastic polymer. There are many different types of thermoplastics, giving you the flexibility of choosing just what works best for you. But why make the switch to thermoplastic mouth guards?
1. Sturdier and harder to compress
The biggest reason why you should consider a thermoplastic mouth guard is because the material is sturdier. When you experience impact on a thermoplastic mouth guard, the force is dissipated across the entire mouth guard surface. This prevents a single point of impact from coming in contact with your teeth and causing damage. You can think of this mouth guard as a shock absorber, taking in force and spreading it out over a larger surface area.
The sturdiness of thermoplastics arises from how they're made. The material is typically heated to a specific temperature, moulded accordingly and then solidified on cooling. The end result is a harder and more durable mouth guard for your teeth.
2. Easier to custom-fit for many different mouth shapes
Even though thermoplastic mouth guards are sturdier, they're still very comfortable to wear. The material can be moulded into many different shapes and designs to achieve the perfect fit. A better fit means that the mouth guard is less likely to fall off when you're in the middle of gameplay, and it will cause minimal irritation even after many hours in your mouth.
Another benefit of thermoplastic is that it can be easily remoulded to correct any sizing issues you may experience. You don't have to keep buying new mouth guards if there are changes to your teeth and jaw structure.
3. Can be used to protect your braces
If you're undergoing orthodontic treatment, you may feel limited in the playing field. Luckily, thermoplastic polymers are sturdy and comfortable enough to fit right over your braces. You don't have to take your braces out whenever you're in the field of play. Simply slide in your thermoplastic mouth guard, and you're good to go.
Share