The American dental association reports that dental injuries are very common in contact and collision sports. Numerous studies have shown that participants of all ages and skill levels are at risk of dental injuries in sporting activities at both recreational and competitive levels. While contact and collision sports, such as boxing have injury risks, dental injuries are also apparent in non-contact sports and activities like skating and gymnastics.

Have you ever thought about how it would feel to lose a front tooth? I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t be smiling a whole lot. Pronouncing certain words or have a face to face conversation would be a bit awkward. A properly fitted mouth guard is an important piece of gear to have if you are involved in contact sports.

Studies of mouth guard users versus non users have consecutively shown that wearing a mouth guard offers significant protection against sports related injuries to the soft tissues and teeth. Mouth guards provide a protective surface to distribute and dissipates forces upon impact that minimizes the severity of traumatic injury to the soft and hard tissues.

Dentists are encouraged to ask their patients if they are involved in a team sport or activity with the risks of injury to the teeth, jaw or soft tissues (lips, tongue or cheeks). The American Dental Association recommends that people of all ages should use a fitted mouth guard in any type of sporting activity that may pose a risk for injury. Although a custom mouth guard would be best because it is fabricated to fit exactly to your individual mouth make up and can be tailored to the specific sport, other mouth guards can be effective if they are fit well and stay in place.

SPORTS FOR WHICH YOU MAY NEED A MOUTH GUARD

Acrobatics, Basketball, Bicycling, Boxing, Equestrian events, Extreme sports, Field events, Field hockey, Football, Gymnastics, Handball, Ice hockey, Inline skating, Lacrosse, Martial arts, Racquetball, Rugby, Shot-putting, Skateboarding, Skiing, Skydiving, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Surfing, Volleyball, Water polo, Weightlifting, Wrestling

Our goal as your dentists is to make sure you keep a safe, healthy smile for life!

 

AS ALWAYS THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR PRACTICE FAMILY!!