Heart Health: Don't Neglect Dental Care

There are some hobbies you may be involved with that put you at a greater risk of suffering dental emergencies. Contact sports, skateboarding, mountain climbing, and other risky hobbies can all leave you more susceptible to damaging your teeth if you take a good blow to your mouth area. The most important thing you can do to help reduce your risk of finding yourself dealing with a dental emergency due to your lifestyle choices is to wear a mouth guard. However, there are some things you should know about mouth guards in order to make sure you are wearing the right one and taking care of it in a way that helps prevent other issues from arising. Here are some things you should know about mouth guards:

Learn about mouth guards bought at sporting goods stores

You can buy a mouth guard at most sporting good stores and at a lot of the big box stores that have sporting good sections. Now, if you aren't involved in very serious contact sports and you are on a budget, then these will offer you some protection. You will place the mouth guard into a pot of boiling water when you get home to soften it up. Then you will remove it, let it cool slightly, and then put it in your mouth to mold it. Always follow the directions that came with it to the letter, so you know you are doing it right. Keep in mind, these guards may not fit as well as they should since you did it on your own in the kitchen.

Learn about mouth guards bought through your dentist

You can go directly to your dentist and tell them that you need a mouth guard for protection and explain what sport or activity you do. They will use the best materials that will protect your mouth as much as possible. They will also be the ones making sure the mouth guard fits exactly the way it should so you know without a doubt that it is going to protect you to all extents possible.

Maintaining your mouth guard

Many people don't think about the fact that mouth guards do take a little bit of maintenance, but they do. You want to make sure you always brush your teeth right before putting the mouth guard in your mouth. You also want to make sure no one else ever puts your mouth guard into their mouth. You should always carry two of them with you to practices and games, and you need to be sure you clean them well before you put them back in their storage case.

If you need to purchase a mouth guard to protect your teeth, talk to an emergency dental service today to talk about your options.