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Wear a Mouthguard

It's football time again!  And if you're a player, you know what that means....time to get a mouthguard.  In fact, you can be disqualified from playing without one. But did you know that a well fitting mouthguard can help prevent a concussion?   You heard right!  A well-fitting mouthguard can help to disperse forces received from a blow to the jaw and aid in preventing trauma to the brain.  Don't even think about not wearing one!
Now if you're in braces or you still have baby teeth present that are working their way out, a stock mouthguard purchased at the athletic store is going to be the best bet for you.  For the rest of you, a custom made mouthguard is ideal.  A custom made mouthguard at our office is made from a 3mm thick material and fits the shape of all the teeth.  We just made custom fit mouthguards for the varsity and junior varsity teams.  We made them 5mm thick and put their school color, jersey number and name into the guards.  We also incorporated a helmet strap on them and a vented case for keeping it happy afterwards. Needless to say, the athletes and coaches have been very happy with the results.
If you play a contact sport, wear a mouthguard!  It may not only save your teeth, but your brain!  Keep Smiling! - Dr. Gailey

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