Wearing a mouthguard can seem uncomfortable and a bit overrated until the moment you realize it is critical to your dental safety during sporting activities.
With school back in session, high school and college athletes are heading out to practice again. Sports related injuries are inevitable. Wearing a sports mouthguard can be instrumental in preventing many of the injuries that come as a result of blows to the head, face, and jawbone.
Wearing a mouthguard while participating in your sport of choice can save you from unnecessary dental injuries, protect the jaw, prevent cuts to the cheek and tongue, and help you avoid serious injuries to the roots and bone that hold your teeth in place. Perhaps most importantly, wearing a mouth guard can also help to prevent concussions.
As a dentist who has practiced general dentistry, oral surgery, cosmetic dentistry, and dental implants, I often see sports related injuries. These cases often need significant dental repair. Often times these injuries could have been avoided if dental safety precautions, such as wearing a mouthguard, were heeded.
In 1962 mouthguards became a requirement for high school and college football. As a result, the percentage of mouth injuries dropped from 50% to 0.5%. Although mouth guards are not required in all sports, all athletes should wear them. The risk for a dental sports related injury is greater in other sports than it is in football. For instance, only 7% of basketball players wear mouth guards, but the risk in basketball for injury to the face, mouth, and jawbone is actually greater.
If you are planning on wearing a mouthguard as a part of your dental safety precautions, there are a few different types of mouthguards to consider. Each type has some level of protection, but they are not all equal in effectiveness.
Types of Mouthguards:
- Custom Made Mouthguards: These mouthguards are formed to your teeth at the dental office and are proven to be the best protection, although they are the most expensive option.
- Mouth Formed Mouthguards: These guards are put into boiling water and then placed in the athlete’s mouth to form to the contours of the teeth. These mouthguards are not as flexible as the custom made guards. Most mouth formed guards provide adequate protection.
- Ready-Made Mouthguards: These mouthguards are sold over-the-counter. They are the least expensive option, least comfortable, and the least effective. Dentists do not recommend them.
As you are planning your new season of athletics, remember dental safety should be a priority and wearing a mouthguard comes hand-in-hand.
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