All About Water Polo Mouthguards – An Exclusive Guide
Water polo is one of the leading water sports after swimming. It is also defined as playing basketball or soccer in water. And just like every other sport, Waterpolo has its gear, out of which the water polo mouthguard is the most important.
Like all other mouthguards, a water polo mouthguard is a protective barrier worn over teeth while participating in the sport. According to a study, players who do not use mouthguards are 60 times more likely to suffer dental injuries. Since you don’t want to lose all your teeth, you must wear them to keep yourself out of such circumstances.
I will discuss this in detail in this guide to give you a clearer idea about them. So. Let’s get started.
Types Of Mouthguards
Here is a list of three different types of mouthguards. Please go through them and decide which one is going to suit you the best.
1. Stock Mouthguards
Stock mouthguards are readily accessible in any sports store, performed, and ready to use. This is unimportant because you can also purchase them from a pharmacy. Let me first say that their quality is not as good as others because they are not very expensive—I would rather term them extremely cheap.
Everything is standard, from safety to fitting and comfort. Unlike other mouthguards, they are constructed of rubber or polyvinyl, which increases the tendency to gag and makes breathing and speaking very challenging.
2. Mouth Formed Mouthguards
There are two types of mouth-formed mouthguards: boil-and-bite and shell liners. Rubber or acrylic gel, which easily molds to the shape of your teeth and then sets to keep the shape, is used to line the inside of the shell liner.
The ones that you boil and bite are composed of thermoplastic. They are first submerged in hot water, which aids in shaping the teeth’s shapes. The best thing about them is that if the fit is uncomfortable for you immediately, you may reheat and refit them. The fact that you can easily find these mouthguards in your local drugstore or sports store is a benefit.
3. Custom Fitted Mouthguards
Due to their superior quality, custom-fitted mouthguards are the priciest mouthguards available. They are created using a mold to ensure a perfect fit that offers excellent comfort and security.
It would help if you merely visited your dentist before having them because they are made to cover all teeth. For the dental laboratory technician to build your custom-fitted mouthguard, he would take an impression of your teeth. They are wholly worthwhile investments.
Advantages Of Waterpolo Mouthguards
Waterpolo mouthguards are beneficial in the following ways:
- Aid in preventing tooth loss, root and bone damage, and cracked or broken teeth.
- It protects against major injuries such as neck injuries, concussions, jaw fractures, and bleeds on the brain.
- They aid in avoiding lip, tongue, and cheek bleeding and bruising.
Tips And Tricks to Using Waterpolo Mouthguards
Try following the tips and tricks below to achieve the best results for your mouthguards.
- Before putting on your mouthguard, always brush and floss your teeth.
- Avoid chewing on your mouthguard, as this can cause it to lose its form.
- After each use, always wash your mouthguard.
- Before keeping your mouthguard, soak it in mouthwash.
- Avoid bending them as much as you can.
- Avoid leaving them in the sun’s direct heat since it could harm them.
- Never share your mouthguard with anyone.
- Refrain from adjusting your mouthguard’s fit on your own.
Durability
A mouthguard’s lifetime and reliability depend entirely on how you wear it and how it was made. After several months of constant, demanding use, stock and mouth-formed guards lose effectiveness. The custom-fitted guards, however, can survive for a year or longer.
Conclusion
Waterpolo mouthguard is an essential piece of equipment that saves you from many oral injuries. They also protect your injuries, which is a plus point. In other words, they are worth spending money on. I hope you enjoyed learning about mouthguards.
Please leave your remarks in the comment section below and let me know if you found this guide helpful. Thank you!
FAQs
Since toothpaste can be abrasive, it might scratch your mouthguard, causing it to age more quickly. Castile or dish soap can be used to clean your mouthguard because they are non-abrasive properly.
The mouthguard should fit tightly against the top teeth without shifting or causing the wearer to clench or reposition their jaws. It should partially cover the upper gums and the area behind the lips, but it shouldn’t extend too far over the palate.
You can call them lip protectors, binky mouthguards, pacifier mouthpieces, or whatever else you like. American football players frequently wear mouthguards that assist to cover the lips.
