ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION, more than 2 million teeth are knocked out each year due to sports-related injuries! While that’s a pretty shocking statistic, thank goodness approximately 200,000 high-school and college athletes use mouthguards to avoid such injuries.
The National Youth Sports Foundation for the Prevention of Athletic Injuries, Inc. also weighs in with a report that dental injuries are the most common type of oral facial injury sustained during sports-related activities.
What’s the Message from Comfort Dental?
If you or a family member participates in activities such as basketball, softball, football, wrestling, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, in-line skating, martial arts, skateboarding, or bicycling – the dentists at Comfort Dental in Lafayette urge you to consider a mouthguard!
Mouthguard Defined
An athletic mouthguard is a flexible appliance worn during athletic and recreational activities to protect teeth from trauma.
How Does a Mouthguard Help?
Mouthguards are effective at moving the lips and cheeks away from the teeth, thus preventing cutting and bruising of these soft tissues—especially for those who wear orthodontic appliances.
Custom-fabricated mouthguards are essential for preventing athletic oral and facial injuries, such as broken teeth, jaw fractures, cerebral hemorrhages, and neck injuries. Wearing a mouthguard also may reduce the severity and incidence of concussions.
When Should I Wear a Mouthguard?
The most straight-forward answer – Wear a mouthguard anytime there’s a strong chance for contact with other participants or with hard surfaces.
What are the Different Types of Mouthguards?
- Stock
Stock mouth protectors are inexpensive and come pre-formed, ready to wear. Unfortunately, they often don’t fit very well. They can be bulky and can make breathing and talking difficult. - Boil and bite
Boil and bite mouth protectors also can be bought at many sporting goods stores and may offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. They should be softened in water, then inserted and allowed to adapt to the shape of your mouth. If you don’t follow the directions carefully you can wind up with a poor-fitting mouth protector. - Custom-Made Mouthguard: The best choice is a Custom-made sports mouthguards at Comfort Dental offering the best, most individualized protection for your teeth. It offers the best protection, fit, and comfort level because it is made from an exact model of your teeth.
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How can I learn more about Sports Mouthguards?
Dr. Brucken and Dr. Stubbs will be happy to discuss athletic mouthguards. Feel free to Ask the Dentist, call our office at 765-742-3100, or bring up the topic of athletic mouthguards during your next visit to Comfort Dental of Lafayette.
Dr. Brucken and Dr. Stubbs frequently use Glidewell Laboratories for their high-quality mouthguards. The following video provides great additional information about custom mouthguards.
