Teeth Don’t Grow Back: The Importance of Mouthguards in Sports
In today’s competitive sports scene, and even some youth and recreational sports, a hit to the face is not uncommon.
While the situation or sport may vary, the extent of the injury may hinge on one simple question: Was the athlete wearing a mouthguard?
Mouthguards have been crowned the MVP in defending players against dental injury. In this article, we will discuss the importance of mouthguards in sports and how you can use them to add more bite to your game.
Table of Contents
- Why Is It Important To Wear a Mouthguard During Sports?
- 3 Reasons Why Mouthguards Are Important in Sports
- Potential Added Benefit of Sports Mouthguards: Increased Athletic Performance
- How To Maximize the Protection of a Sports Mouthguard
- Selecting a Sports Mouthguard
- Get the Best Protection With a Custom Sports Mouthguard From Mint Dental Works in SE Portland
Why Is It Important To Wear a Mouthguard During Sports?
Rumored to have first been invented in 1892 by boxer and London dentist Woolfe Krause, mouthguards are one of the best lines of defense against common orofacial injuries sustained during sports participation.
Today, the U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requires mouthguards for four sports:
- Ice hockey
- Lacrosse
- Field hockey
- Football
However, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that athletes use mouthguards in many other sports/exercise activities, including:
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Still, an astounding one-third of all dental injuries are estimated to be linked to sports-related activities. According to the ADA, athletes are 60 times more likely to experience an injury to their teeth or mouth when not wearing a mouthguard. The Academy of General Dentistry also projects that mouthguards prevent more than 200,000 oral injuries annually.
Unfortunately, a survey by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) found that up to 84% of children athletes do not wear mouthguards if they are not required to. Lack of information and awareness has prevented parents and athletes from seeing the importance of mouthguards in sports.
3 Reasons Why Mouthguards Are Important in Sports
Mint Dental Works is on a mission to protect Portland’s smiles and educate the public on the importance of mouthguards in sports. While most people believe mouthguards are only designed to protect teeth, they protect so much more!
Let’s take a look at what mouthguards protect and why they are essential in sports.
#1: Dentofacial Injury Prevention
Dentofacial injuries are defined as “injury to the jaw, teeth, or soft oral tissues (lip, mouth, cheek, and tongue). Research suggests that athletes have a 1 in 10 chance of experiencing a facial or dental injury during a single season. Sports-related dental injuries also account for 40% of all dentofacial injuries in the U.S.
Teeth
The most common tooth injuries from sport-related accidents include:
- Crown fractures: The tooth or root has become split, cracked, or chipped.
- Tooth avulsion: The entire tooth and root have been removed from the mouth.
- Tooth subluxation: Tissues around the tooth have become damaged and are in the wrong position.
- Tooth intrusion: The tooth has been displaced and impacted into the jawbone.
While several studies substantiate that 80% of all athletes will experience a minor or severe dental mishap in their athletic career, others claim these injuries are rare, especially in high school sports.
But what’s the cost of added protection? Mouthguards can cost anywhere from $20 to $200, but the average cost to treat a cracked or knocked-out tooth can be much more.
Mouthguards protect teeth from these injuries by forming a protective layer from the teeth and the striking surface, effectively absorbing the initial force and displacing the impact.
Gums
Gum injuries are often related to tooth injuries and dentofacial injuries from sports. When enough force is used to remove or damage teeth, the gums may also be affected.
Subsequently, untreated dental injuries may lead to infection or abscesses in the gums.
Mouthguards proactively prevent gum injury by protecting teeth from harm.
Soft Tissues
Other soft tissues that mouth guards may protect include the cheeks, lips, and tongue. Common soft tissue injuries include:
- Lacerations
- Contusions
- Abrasions
Mouthguards separate the teeth from other parts of the mouth, creating a barrier and preventing the teeth from biting down or chewing these soft tissues during impact.
Jawbone
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), most commonly known as the jaw, is especially susceptible to injury during sports. Common jaw injuries include dislocations and fractures.
Mouthguards prevent jawbone injuries by absorbing and dispersing force. The mouthguard absorbs most of the impact and not the jawbone.
Mouthguards also protect against TMJ strain and injury due to clenching, often categorized as occasional swelling, difficulty opening the mouth, and “clicking” or “popping” noises when chewing or eating.
In one study examining 86 athletes, the incident of TMJ injury and mouthguard use found that 82% of participants experiencing TMJ pain or clicking did not wear mouthguards.
#2: Dental Work Protection
If you are an athlete or a parent of an athlete who has paid for dental work, you understand the investment in your smile. Fortunately, mouthguards can protect your dental work and the investment in your dental health.
Mint Dent Works would be happy to help you find a mouthguard or create a custom guard to protect your dental work. For over twenty years, we’ve helped athletes maintain their smiles and dental health.
As leading SE Portland dentists, we are committed to consistently delivering expert, patient-centered care. Learn more about our practice or schedule an appointment today.
#3: Concussion Prevention
Roughly 3.8 million concussions due to sports-related injuries occur in the United States each year. The CDC estimates that 5% to 10% of all athletes will experience a concussion at some point in their career.
Concussions are serious brain injuries that may lead to lifelong complications. With the prevalence of concussions in sports, officials continuously advocate for the use of helmets and mouthguards to prevent brain injury.
Research suggests that mouthguards may be associated with a 69% reduction in concussion risk compared to no mouthguard at all.
Potential Added Benefit of Sports Mouthguards: Increased Athletic Performance
Some studies suggest that mouthguards do not hinder athletic performance or confidence and may, in fact, enhance an athlete’s ability to play.
Experts believe that since mouthguards relax and align the jaw, oxygen uptake is optimized and increased, allowing athletes to maintain their endurance and prevent fatigue. More research may be needed to uphold this theory, but one thing remains clear: mouthguards provide nothing but advantages.
How To Maximize the Protection of a Sports Mouthguard
Various studies have measured the effectiveness of mouthguards by the following properties:
- Shock-absorbing capability
- Hardness
- Stiffness (indicative of protective capability)
- Tensile strength
- Tear strength (indicative of durability);
- And water absorption
Additionally, you should choose a mouthguard that is:
- Able to securely stay in place
- Compatible with the wearer
- Easy to clean
- Fitted the wearer’s mouth and is adapted to individual oral structures
Finding the best mouthguard for your or your athlete can be overwhelming. How do you know which mouthguard is right for your sport and when you’re paying too much or not enough?
The staff at Mint Dental Works are dental professionals experienced in helping athletes. We understand that finding a mouthguard can seem like a hassle, but with our expert advice and recommendations, we’ll help you find or create a custom-made mouthguard that is the perfect fit for you!
Selecting a Sports Mouthguard
There are three main types of mouthguards:
- Stock: General mouthguards that can be bought and immediately worn.
- Boil and bite: This mouthguard is designed to be boiled until soft and fitted into the wearer’s mouth to harden and form around teeth.
- Custom: A dental or orthodontic expert creates a mold of teeth that will be turned into a custom mouth guard.
While keeping your mouthguard clean is essential, it’s even more important to ensure its efficacy over time.
Mouthguards gradually lose their effectiveness as they lose their thickness and ability to absorb impact. We recommend replacing mouthguards every six to eight months. For children, this may need to be done more often as their mouth changes as they grow.
If you aren’t sure about the efficiency of your or your child’s mouthguard, you can bring it to your biannual dentist appointment at Mint Dental Works.
Get the Best Protection With a Custom Sports Mouthguard From Mint Dental Works in SE Portland
Now that we’ve covered the importance of mouthguards in sports, we hope we’ve convinced you to take action if you are not actively using a mouthguard in your sports participation.
You can make an appointment to have your custom sports mouthguard created at Mint Dental Works or schedule an appointment with us to explore other options!
At Mint Dental Works, we care about the health and safety of our patients, on and off the field. We’ve spent decades cultivating a practice that is passionate about empowering our patients to protect their teeth and maintain good dental health.
Let’s make a game plan to support your smile. Learn more about our services or schedule an appointment today.
The content in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.