In the dynamic world of sports, athletes across all skill levels understand the importance of wearing protective gear to avoid injuries. While helmets and padded uniforms are essential, adding a sports mouthguard to your equipment will greatly enhance your protection, especially when it comes to safeguarding your teeth.
Maintaining good oral health goes beyond regular brushing and flossing. It also involves taking some basic steps to shield your teeth, jaws, and soft tissues in and around the mouth from potential harm during sports activities.
As participation rates in organized and recreational sports continue to rise, so do incidents of sports-related injuries. Injuries to the oral cavity are no exception. According to recent estimates by the American Dental Association, 10-20% of all sports-related injuries involve damage to the maxillofacial region.
Despite these statistics, there's good news. Wearing a well-fitted mouthguard can significantly reduce the risk of oral injury and associated damage. The numbers speak for themselves. It's estimated that mouthguards prevent nearly 200,000 oral injuries each year.
Designed to cushion and protect the teeth and surrounding tissues, a well-fitted mouthguard can minimize the chances of a blow to the face resulting in broken teeth or accompanying injuries to the lips, tongue, face, and jaw. Some studies suggest that wearing a mouthguard may even lessen the force of impact transmitted to the brain.
Wearing a mouthguard is beneficial for many recreational activities and sports. It's especially crucial for athletes participating in contact sports like football, rugby, hockey, boxing, martial arts, etc. A mouthguard also makes sense for solo athletic endeavors with a high risk of falling or getting hit with an object. Besides contact sports, the American Dental Association recommends skateboarders, skiers, gymnasts, shot-putters, skydivers, surfers, and weightlifters also wear mouthguards.
Today, various types of mouthguards are available, each offering a different level of protection. Before selecting one, it's wise to consult with our office. Stock mouthguards, which come pre-formed and ready to wear, provide a basic level of defense but often lack a snug fit. Boil-and-bite mouthguards offer a semi-custom fit by softening in hot water and then molding to the athlete's mouth. For the highest level of protection, please speak with our office about a custom mouthguard.
Our custom mouthguards are individually crafted based on the unique specifics of your smile. They offer a precise fit while providing optimal protection and shock absorption, allowing for easy breathing and speaking.
At the office of Elite Dental Club, we value your trust in protecting your oral health. For more information on sports mouthguards and how we can help you maintain a healthy, beautiful smile, call us today.
Our goal is to help every patient experience the benefits of good oral health and a beautiful smile. We value the trust you have placed in our office and strive to provide solutions that meet your dental needs and expectations of care.