Mouthgaurds


Who should wear a mouthgaurd?

Any child or adult who is involved in organized athletics and recreational activities should wear a mouthgaurd. In general, you should wear a mouthgaurd any time you have a chance of making contact with other participants or hard surfaces.
The American Dental Association recommends that people who participate in the following activities wear mouthgaurds: Acrobats, basketball, boxing, field hockey, football, gymnastics, handball, ice hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, roller hockey, rugby, shot putting, skateboarding, skiing, skydiving, soccer, squash, surfing, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting and wrestling.


Protection offered by mouthgaurd

Mouthgaurds prevent an estimated 200,000 injuries a year in high school and college organized sports alone. 
Unfortunately, about five million teeth are knocked out every year when mouthgaurds are not worn.  Mouthgaurds protect the teeth, tongue, cheeks, lips and jaw from injury. By absorbing the shock of impact, mouthgaurds protect teeth against chips, cracks, fractures, damage and dislodging.  They also help avoid more serious injuries, including concussions, jaw fractures and neck injuries, by preventing the lower jaw from making contact with the upper jaw.
A properly fitting and protective mouthgaurd is an important equipment investment, especially when considering the cost of dental work for damaged teeth.  With a lifetime of care, repair of damage can cost thousands of dollars per tooth. Repaired teeth also can develop other dental problems, such as periodontal disease.


Mouthgaurd options

Three mouthgaurd options: stock, “Boil and Bite”, and custom – are available.

Stock

1. Least expensive option
2. Comes in three sizes – small, medium, and large
3. Restricts breathing and speech
4. Offers least protection since fit cannot be adjusted
5. Held in place by constantly biting down
6. Purchased at sporting goods stores
7. Not recommended by dental and health care professionals

“Boil and Bite”

1. Less expensive than custom
2. Limited sizes
3. May become this over time
4. Not as protective as custom
5. Interferes less with speech and breathing than stock
6. Purchased at sporting goods stores
7. Formed using boiling water at home
8. Not long-lasting
9. Often does not cover all teeth

Custom

1. Made from an impression of the mouth
2. Offers the best fit
3. Interferes the least with speech and breathing
4. Can accommodate orthodontic work or previous dental injuries
5. Can be designed for a specific sport
6. Most expensive
7. Made by a dentist
8. Highly recommended by dentists and other health care professionals

Protect your smile

Currently, five amateur sports require mouthgaurds during practice and competition: boxing, football, ice hockey, men’s lacrosse and women’s field hockey.  Many local school districts and state athletic organizations have their own policies regarding mouthgaurd use. With or without policies, anyone who participates in athletic activities should protect their smile with a high-quality, properly fitted mouthgaurd.