Ask The Dentist: Mouthguards

Q: My son will be joining his school’s soccer team next year. His teacher advised that we get him a mouthguard for protection. I think it is not as “physical” as rugby, so is it necessary? Are there any differences between a mouth-guard bought over-the-counter (OTC) and customised by a dentist? 

A: From time to time, our clinic sees patients who have suffered trauma to the teeth and mouth through sports injuries. It is estimated that 13% to 39% of dental injuries occur while playing sports. 

Therefore, it is advised that a mouthguard be worn during any sport which poses a risk of contact to the face. The obvious sports would be rugby and boxing, while sports where unexpected contact may occur such as soccer, basketball, hockey, baseball and water polo are included too.

Prevention is better than cure

A mouth-guard would help to cushion one’s teeth and absorb the shock when an object hits one’s face or when a collision takes place. It helps to prevent the following:

• Chipped or broken teeth 
• Loosened teeth 
• Knocked out or displaced teeth 
• Lips and gum injuries 
• Fractured or broken jaw 

Injuries like these are not only painful, but also frequently require emergency treatments (eg. composite bonding, filling or root canal treatment) and in serious cases, require surgeries to restore the teeth, lips, gums and jaw to its original function and appearance. 

Not all mouthguards provide equal protection

As everyone has a unique teeth arrangement and mouth size, mouthguards that are custom-fitted by a dentist provide better protection. It is fitted nicely to one’s teeth so that one would be able to breathe, speak and drink easily. Comparatively, it is also less bulky and is more comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.

There are cases where patients sustained dental injuries even after wearing a mouthguard. One such case is a teenage girl who was hit by a hockey stick. Her front tooth was knocked out, one canine tooth chipped, and her lips and gums were split. She wore the typical “boil-and-bite” mouthguard which can be bought over-the-counter. As it was not properly fitted, there were little protection for the teeth.

A mouthguard that is bought at a pharmacy is definitely cheaper, but a custom-fit mouthguard significantly reduces the risk of potential major repairs to the teeth.

Other mouthguard tips

The material of the mouthguard should have a thickness of four millimetres and cover vulnerable areas such as the biting surfaces of the upper teeth and the visible surfaces of the six upper front teeth upon which the lips rest. 


It is recommended that the mouthguard is checked by a dentist every 12 months to ensure optimal fit and protection. When the mouthguard develops pits and/ or cracks, it is an indication to change a new one. These rough patches harbour bacteria and can break the skin on gums, giving opportunity for bacteria to enter the body. 

When not in use, the mouthguard should be stored in its protection case and at room temperature to ensure that it does not deform. One should also clean the case regularly with soapy water. 

Clean the mouth guard after each use by brushing it with a toothbrush and toothpaste to remove debris, and then rinse with soapy water. 


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Dr Ho Kok Sen is an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with Specialist Dental Group®. Dr Ho is a mentor, lecturer and examiner to students in the Graduate Diploma in Dental Implantology course at the National University of Singapore. Dr Ho is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons and the Academy of Medicine Singapore. He has a special interest in dental implants, jaw surgery, bone grafting and complex extractions.

For more information, visit www.specialistdentalgroup.com
Phone: +65 6733 7883

CIS student wins first prize for Project X-Pired 2015!

Project X-Pired is a food art competition organised by Singapore Foodbank where participants convert expired food items into art pieces for a fundraising auction. The aim of the competition is to raise awareness about food wastage around the world. 

CIS Grade 5 student Aadya and her close friend Ananya, jointly entered in the competition and took home first prize in the junior category. Their stunning art piece depicted three recent disasters - two natural (the ongoing bushfires in Australia and earthquake in Nepal) and one manmade (the Syrian refugee crisis). All three events have led to acute food shortages, as well as leaving thousands of people homeless and devastated.

The rules of the competition allowed entrants to only use up to 20% of non food waste items (such as glue, paper and paints) in their artwork. This meant Aadya and Ananya had to be exceptionally creative and resourceful with the choice of materials. Their winning art piece was comprised of rice, thin and flat noodles, lentils, lacquer, paper, paint and glue.

“We are extremely proud of Aadya and Ananya’s achievement”, said Aadya’s mother. “The best part about it was watching them work together as a team and decide on the theme of their artwork and the events to be depicted in it. Team work at a young age gives kids a great opportunity for what they will eventually face in real life and the corporate world. I am so grateful Aadya has had this opportunity while still at school. I was educated following a very traditional schooling system where only textbooks were used and exams happened every quarter.” 

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To read more about CIS and their students’ achievements visit www.cis.edu.sg.

A Pilates Workout - Double Leg Stretch ..... it burns fat in your lower abs!

By Jessica Gan

A. Float your legs to 90 degrees tabletop position. 

B. Inhale through your nose. Exhale through pursed lips. As you exhale, contract your abs and "melt" that belly into the mat, slowly raise your neck. Keep the flexion without stressing it.

C. In the stationary position with your hands by the side of your legs, exhale again as you extend your limbs out. Think of lower abs here!

D. Repeat 10 reps.

If your neck is still getting stronger, you may also do the version with neck on the mat. The important thing is to avoid bobbing the neck.

The closer your legs are to the mat, the more you challenge yourself. Always keep your spine imprinted to that mat.

If you have knee pain and cannot jump around, yet need to lose lower abs adipose tissue; this can be a great option for you. In pilates (as in life), there are always options. Have a beautiful and fit life!

Are you triggered?

In recent years a movement has been on the rise. Driven largely by students, there is a growing quest to scour entire campuses clean of words, ideas and subjects that may cause discomfort or give offense. This increasing demand for protection from words and ideas students don’t like, known as “trigger words”, is a topic taken very seriously at McGill. Overall, it has led to a culture in which everyone must think twice before speaking up, lest they face possible accusations of insensitivity, aggression, or worse.

This new-found vulnerability towards micro-aggressions is a big change for many, and it is a culture clash in its own when it comes to simply understanding what exactly a “trigger word” can be. Seemingly innocuous topics of discussion such as euthanasia, war, and books like Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart are now forbidden in some places (not in Canada) for portraying racial violence that can “trigger” the recurrence of past trauma in some students. However, after the events that unfolded at Yale and Mizzou, the underlying reasons for this issue become open for debate. Both of these incidents, related to the weaponization of “safe space” are worth a read.

The ultimate aim is to turn campuses into “safe spaces” where young adults are shielded from words and ideas that make some uncomfortable and actually, measures have already been taken to do so. For example, all students residing in McGill Dorms must attend a mandatory 3-hour session on how to exercise such a safe space. Although it is argued that avoiding the things that cause fear can affect the perception on mental health, this concept is a reality that many college students will experience. So next time you find yourself within the McGill bubble, feel free ask someone “what is a safe space?” to get their take on the whole situation.

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John Nnamchi is a Canadian student at McGill University and will contribute his Montreal perspectives in each issue of the MLT.