Properly fitted sports mouthguards can help prevent injuries to the mouth. Sportsdentistry.com says good mouthguards should be comfortable, resilient and tear-resistant. Mouthguards are particularly important for preventing injuries to the teeth and gums.
Introduction
Mouthguards must be worn to play football, hockey, lacrosse, field hockey and boxing. Many amateur and professional athletes also wear them for sports that don't require mouth protection, such as basketball.
Mouth Injuries in Sports
Mouth injuries are common in sports where mouthguards are not required. In basketball, a sport that doesn't require mouthguards, 34 percent of injuries in a 1995 study were orofacial, according to an article cited by sportsdentistry.com. Injuries can include tooth damage, lacerations and fractured jaws. Dental injuries are the most common type of orofacial injury sustained during sports. According to sportsdentistry.com, serious mouth injuries can lead to lifetime dental costs of up to $15,000 per tooth. It is estimated that mouthguards prevent approximately 200,000 injuries each year in high school and collegiate football alone.
Types of Mouthguards
There are three types of sports mouthguards, according to WebMD. Mouthguards usually just cover the upper teeth. Stock mouth protectors come ready to wear and usually can't be adjusted. They are inexpensive and can be bought at most sporting goods stores. Boil and bite protectors are placed in hot water to soften and then put in the mouth and molded around the teeth. Custom mouth protectors are designed and made by dentists. A dentist makes an impression of your teeth, and the mouth guard is molded over the impression. Custom mouthguards are more expensive than the other two types, but provide more protection.
Athletes and Mouthguards
Mouthguards protect the jawbone, teeth, lips and cheeks from injury. Mouthguards also absorb shock and can prevent a concussion by lessening the force of a blow. Even in sports that don't require the use of a mouthguard, young athletes are encouraged to wear mouthguards because so many professional athletes wear them. The best mouthguards won't affect your breathing or speaking.
Mouthguard Complaints
Sportsdentistry.com says mouthguards should be odorless and tasteless. However, some athletes complain that mouthguards have a bad taste. Cheaper mouthguards, particularly stock ones, can interfere more with breathing. Stock mouthguards also may not fit properly and can cause an athlete to gag. A mouthguard that is bulky, lacks retention and requires an athlete to constantly bite down to keep it in place won't be effective in protecting an athlete's mouth.
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