Mouth guards are widely used in many contact sports to help prevent concussions. There are a variety of mouth guards available, including boil-and-bite customizable mouth guards, custom-made mouth guards available from your dentist and stock mouth guards that are sold in sporting goods stores. Mouth guards with straps are used in contact sports like football and hockey so that the player can attach the mouth guard to his face mask and not worry about losing it on the ice or the field.
Function
Straps on mouth guards are used to affix the mouth guard to the face mask of the helmet to keep the mouth guard from hitting the ground when the player takes it out of his mouth. Since football and hockey players take frequent breaks and use these breaks to rest and get a drink, they usually just spit out their mouth guard. The mouth guard strap keeps the mouth guard attached to the helmet so the player does not lose it, or risk getting it dirty by dropping it on the ground.
Features
Mouth guard straps can be made of the same rubber material as the mouth guard or from a material that gives the mouth guard more flexibility in the attachment. The straps are adjustable so that you can attach it to your helmet and customize the length to reach your mouth. This will help reduce the amount of slack in the strap and make it easier to place the mouth guard comfortably in your mouth. Rubber mouth guards usually are adjusted by pulling the end of the strap through a loop in the end of the strap and hooking it with a small rubber peg through a hole, much like a belt. Most of the fabric mouth guard straps adjust using a plastic slide adjuster.
Benefits
The American Dental Association says mouth guards prevent approximately 200,000 injuries each year in high school and college football. The mouth guard must be properly fitted to the athlete to provide maximum protection. Mouth guards with straps are especially beneficial for contact sport athletes to keep them from having to purchase multiple mouth guards in a season due to losing the mouth guard during play or when removing their helmet.
Warnings
Always release your bite on the mouth guard if your helmet is removed suddenly during game play. If you continue to bite on the mouth guard and your helmet is pulled from your head, you risk a tooth or jaw injury. Avoid wearing a mouth guard with a strap if you play a contact sport that does not require wearing a face mask. For example, boxers should wear traditional mouth guards that don't have a strap attached, as the strap could be grabbed by the opponent, leading to tooth or jaw injuries.
References
- "Sports Medicine"; Mouthguards in Sport Activities: History, Physical Properties and Injury Prevention Effectiveness; J.J. Knapik et. al.; 2007
- EurekAlert: To Keep Mouths Safe, Don't Just Wear a Mouthguard; Keep It Clean; Academy of General Dentistry
- Online Sports Dentistry: Types of Athletic Mouthguards
