Be Preventive – Wear a Sports Mouthguard!

As I mentioned last week when I discussed dental accidents, I am coaching my daughter’s softball team again this year.  The last several seasons I have fabricated custom-made mouthguards for all of the ladies on the team and am in the process of doing it once again.  I am always dismayed when I hear of an athlete who has had an injury to their mouth.  The main reason is that a well fitting mouthguard could have prevented a majority of the injuries.  Unfortunately, it is estimated that more than 5 million teeth will be knocked out in sporting activities each year!  Last year I talked about different types of mouthguards and felt it would be appropriate to discuss it again, especially with the recent injury that occurred with one of the Sam Houston players.

What is a mouthguard?

A mouthguard is a flexible appliance made out of plastic that is worn to protect the teeth from trauma.  Any activity where there is a strong possibility for contact with other participants or hard surfaces; it is advisable to wear one.  A mouthguard not only protects the teeth and surrounding tissues, it can also prevent certain serious injuries such as concussions, cerebral hemorrhages, incidents of unconsciousness, jaw fractures and neck injuries by limiting situations where the lower jaw gets jammed into the upper.

Is there a difference in the types of mouthguards available?

Yes, a great deal!  In general there are three types of mouthguards available.

Stock mouthguards: This is the lowest cost option and is a “one size fits all type”.  It offers the least amount of protection because it doesn’t adapt to the teeth.  It may interfere with speech and breathing because it requires the jaw to be closed to hold it in place.  A stock mouthguard is better than nothing, but not a lot.  It doesn’t offer ideal protection.

Mouth-formed protectors: This is better known as the “boil and bite” type of protector.  These mouthguards offer better protection than the stock protectors, but when they are heated and bitten in to, several areas get thin and offer limited protection in comparison to a custom-made protector.  The fit is adequate, but the protection is nowhere as good as one that is customized for your mouth.

Custom-made mouth protectors:  A custom-made mouthguard that is fabricated by your dentist offers the best protection, fit and comfort level because it is made from a model of your teeth.  They conform to your actual bite and are made of a more durable material.  A perfect fit can better protect teeth because an exact alignment better absorbs and disperses impacts to the mouth.  The mouthguards are fabricated in different thicknesses with materials that are laminated together.  In some sports like hockey, dispersion bands that spread the impact are interspersed between the layers.  They are made in a variety of colors or designs and can have team logos and/or the players name placed on them.

Athletes are 70 times more likely to sustain damage to teeth when not wearing a mouthguard and it is estimated that there is a 1 in 10 chance of suffering a facial or dental injury in a single athletic season.  It only takes one accident to suffer a life-long injury, and the total rehabilitation costs for a single tooth that is knocked out can be more than twenty times the cost of a quality, professionally made mouthguard.  Mouthguards are like seatbelts, they only work if you wear them!  Play hard, have fun, but be prevention minded – you or your child’s smile will appreciate it.