What’s the most important type of protective sports equipment? Most people would probably agree on a helmet. That answer is not wrong, especially since helmets stop sports players from undergoing serious and life-threatening head injuries. But, for contact sports,
mouth guards can be just as important to a sports player’s safety as a helmet.
Almost forty percent of all sports injuries happen within the facial area, which includes numerous forms of dental trauma. Dentists and athletic coaches realize the importance of proper safety equipment and the gravity of facial trauma, which is why they are so adamant about mouthguards.
Just like a helmet, mouthguards have to be fitted in order for them to protect you properly. A former president of the
Academy of Sports Dentistry,
Emilio Canal Jr, DDS, says, “Mouthguards are protective safety equipment in sports, so they need to be properly fitted. It's no different than a helmet...You’re not going to give a football player a helmet that’s five times bigger than what he needs, because he’s going to run around and it will be moving all over the place. If he gets hit, it’s not going to protect him.”
There are three different kinds of mouthguards:Found in most sporting goods stores and pharmacies are stock mouthguards. However, dentists don't recommend this kind of mouthguard because they offer little to no protection. Also, you cannot adjust the fit, which makes it tough to talk and breathe.
Boil and bite mouthguards work exactly as described. By boiling the thermoplastic material in water, these mouthguards can be molded to best fit the athlete's particular bite. These types of mouthguards can also be found in sporting goods stores.
Personally-fitted mouthguards are the kind of mouthguard dentists recommend because they are individually crafted to fit the athlete. A dentist takes an impression of the athlete’s teeth and then ships the impression to a lab where the mouthguard is created.
As we dive headfirst into the
summer months, always be sure that you and your loved ones are wearing the proper protective equipment. Below are a few of the most typical dental issues associated with sports injuries. Speak with Dr. Sachs about the various kinds of mouthguards and ask which one you should use. That way, you can avoid these problems.
• Intrusion
• TMJ dislocation
• Missing teeth
• Crown fractures