Benefits of Mouthguards in Sports: A Necessary Piece of Equipment
Dr. Mark Tadrissi, DDS, is an endodontic technology specialist in Charlotte, NC, with extensive experience in general and restorative dentistry.
September 21, 2016It’s part of our passion as professionals to keep you and your children as educated as possibly about dental health and safety. We see so many cases of traumas to the teeth that can affect somebody’s dental health for their entire life.
Youth and adolescent sports participation have grown steadily over the years. It is estimated that 20 to 25 million youths participate in competitive sports. As a result of this growth in participation levels, an incidence of injury has also increased. Some have reported sports to account for approximately 36% of all unintentional injuries to children and adolescents. Of those injuries, 10-20% of all sports-related injuries are maxillofacial injuries according to the American Dental Association.
The National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety reports dental injuries as the most common type of orofacial injury sustained during sports participation. They contend that an athlete is 60 times more likely to sustain damage to the teeth when not wearing a protective mouthguard. Often times these injuries will result in permanent damage to oral structures which require medical intervention. There are many benefits of mouthguards in sports. We’ll be discussing about its pros below, let’s first know what are the common types of dental injuries.
Types of Dental Injuries
Injuries to the teeth can be grouped into three different categories with care specific to each type.
| Fracture | – | can be classified as a root fracture, broken tooth or chipped tooth | |
| – | if possible, stabilize the portion of tooth still in the mouth by gently biting on a towel to control bleeding | ||
| – | athlete and tooth fragments should be transported immediately to a dentist | ||
| – | best methods of transport of the tooth are in Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution, milk, saline soaked gauze, or under the athlete’s tongue | ||
| Avulsion | – | entire tooth, including root, knocked out | |
| – | do not handle tooth by the root (tooth should be handled by the crown) | ||
| – | do not brush, scrub, or sterilize tooth | ||
| – | if tooth is dirty, gently rinse with water | ||
| – | if possible, place tooth back in socket and have athlete gently bite down on towel | ||
| – | if unable to reimplant tooth, transport tooth with the athlete as described above to the dentist immediately | ||
| Luxation | – | tooth in socket, but in wrong position | |
| – | Extruded Tooth – tooth appears longer than surrounding teeth | ||
| – | Lateral Displacement – tooth pushed back or pulled forward |
For extruded or laterally displaced teeth, provide the following care:
- The tooth will need to be repositioned in socket using firm finger pressure. This is probably best done by trained dental/medical personnel.
- Have the athlete gently bite down on a towel and transport immediately to a dentist
- Intruded tooth – tooth looks short, pushed into gum.
- Do not attempt to reposition tooth
- Transport athlete immediately to a dentist
It is important to remember time is critical when handling dental injuries. Do not allow the athlete to wait until the end of the game to seek treatment for a dental injury. Transport them to a dentist within 2 hours for the best outcomes.
Prevention of Dental Injuries
Dental injuries are easily prevented. It has been suggested that a properly fitted custom mouthguard may reduce the rate of concussion as well as dental injuries.
Some experts recommend that mouthguards be worn by athletes in competitive and recreational sports in which impact, contact, and collision are likely to occur. The American Dental Association recommends wearing custom mouthguards for the following sports: acrobats, basketball, boxing, field hockey, football, gymnastics, handball, ice hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, roller hockey, rugby, shot putting, skateboarding, skiing, skydiving, soccer, squash, surfing, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting, and wrestling. Other experts include baseball and softball infielders on that list. They further recommend the mouthguard to be worn during all practices and competition.
Selecting a Mouth Guard
There are many benefits of mouthguards in sports. Here are three types of mouthguards that you can choose from:
- Ready-made or stock mouthguard
- Mouth-formed “boil and bite” mouthguard
- Custom-made mouthguard made by a dentist
These mouthguards vary in price and comfort, yet all provide some protection. According to the American Dental Association, the most effective mouthguard should be comfortable, resistant to tearing, and resilient. A mouthguard should fit properly, be durable, easily cleaned, and not restrict speech or breathing.
It is important to remember damaged teeth do not grow back. Protect that perfect smile – wear a mouthguard. For more information on benefits of mouthguards in sports and any other dental related inquiry, you can contact us.