Studies have consistently shown that wearing mouthguards during sports is extremely important. I think anyone can agree that a ball hitting you in the face is never fun, especially when it also involves damaging your teeth.
Some of the common dental injuries in sports include tooth or crown fractures and teeth knocked out. Mouthguards help prevent most injuries and do not significantly affect breathing or speech if correctly fitted. One study of college basketball players found:
- Players had a 67 % chance of mouth injuries when not wearing mouthguards.
- Players wearing a mouthguard, especially custom-fitted mouthguards, had only a 12 % chance of mouth injury.
Wearing a mouthguard while playing sports is one of the easiest and cheapest things you can do to protect your teeth.
Mouthguards for Children
With children back in school and team sports, talking about the mouthguards for protecting your child’s teeth is essential.
The American Association of Orthodontists collected data for an independent survey about mouthguards, and this is what they found:
Ninety-nine percent of parents whose children play
organized sports felt youth should be required to wear mouth guards to play.
Yet 37 percent of parents said their child never wears a
mouthguard while playing sports – in games, practices, and recreational play.
“The reality is that many teeth are knocked out each year due to sports-related injuries,” says Nahid Maleki, DDS, MS, president of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO).
Mouthguards for Adults
Wearing a mouthguard applies to adults playing sports too. They are an essential part of your safety gear, even if you play non-contact sports like volleyball, tennis, etc.
Having a tooth knocked out is bad just as much, if not more, as an adult. By wearing a mouthguard, you are potentially saving yourself thousands of dollars and a lot of pain.
To learn more about the types of mouthguards, check out our website here.
Can You Play Sports with Braces?
You might think that you can’t be an athlete and wear braces at the same time. Well, I have good news for you, you absolutely can.
Just because you are wearing braces does not mean you cannot play whatever sport you like. So, you can get out there and score all touchdowns, goals, 3-pointers, or home runs you can!
Mouthguards for People Wearing Braces
Just like everyone else, you should wear a mouthguard to help protect your braces and teeth. Let us know if you need help picking out the right mouthguard for you.
In case of a sports emergency, be sure to check your mouth and appliance for damage immediately. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our office right away.
You can temporarily relieve any discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater.
Summary
Here at Cobb Orthodontics, we definitely know how to have a good time. We want you to be able to have good times as well. Protecting your teeth during sports is a great way to ensure you can continue having good times for years to come.
Please contact us if you have any questions, we look forward to seeing you in our office and out on the field!
Sincerely,
Dr. Tripp Cobb
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