When involved in high impact sports or vigorous activities, it is important to protect your mouth and teeth. This statement is backed by the fact that there are over 600,000 sports-related dental injuries treated in emergency rooms across the US each year according to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
In addition to absorbing and distributing the forces that impact the mouth, teeth, face and jaws an athlete receives while participating in sports such as baseball, football, basketball, hockey (ice and field), skateboarding and wrestling, the American Dental Association (ADA), also recommends the use of custom mouthguards for other activities such as acrobatics, bicycling, handball, racquetball, skiing, and even weightlifting.
These facts make two things clear: (1) it is vital that you obtain a professionally made mouthguard that you wear during these types of activities and (2) that you also understand how this mouthguard protects you. Below are just a few ways.
- Lacerations. A custom-fit, professionally made mouthguard covers the sharp surfaces of the teeth to protect the soft tissues of the cheeks, lips, gums and tongue from lacerations that can occur from a blow or sudden jolt.
- Mouth Impact. Just as a mouthguard protects against soft tissue lacerations, it can also help prevent injuries to the jaws and teeth. This includes but is not limited to chipped teeth, fractured teeth, broken teeth and teeth that are partially or fully knocked out of their natural position.
- TMJ (jaw joint) Trauma. Wearing a properly fitted mouthguard can reduce the potential for jaw displacement and joint fractures by cushioning the jaws against damage from an impact.
- Direct Jaw Impact. Anytime a person receives a direct impact to his/her jaw, having a mouthguard in place may help prevent more serious injuries to teeth and jaws. This is especially important for anyone diagnosed with TMJ.
- Jaw Fracture. A custom-fit, professionally made mouthguard both absorbs and distributes impact forces so that jaws are protected. And it is this reduction in force that can help prevent the jaws from fractures.
- Under Chin Impact. Receiving a blow under the chin can obviously damage teeth; however, it can also cause damage to the jaws as well as inflame or cause TMJ issues.
You can learn more about mouthguards by continuing to read the Dear Doctor magazine article “Athletic Mouthguards.” Or you can contact us today to schedule an appointment.
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- 2019
- July (7)
- Bruins' Zdeno Chara Breaks His Jaw During 2019 Stanley Cup
- Don't Ignore Tooth Pain - You May Need a Root Canal
- Catch Root Resorption Early for Best Chances of Saving Your Tooth
- 3 Things You Can do to Help Promote Your Child's Dental Development
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- Pop Star Demi Lovato Pops Out Jay Glazer's Tooth
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- April (6)
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- March (6)
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- 4 Common-Sense Tactics to Lower Tooth Decay Risk Between Dental Visits
- People Born with Missing Teeth can Still Gain a Beautiful Smile
- NBA Player's Injury Points Out Need for Mouthguards
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- February (6)
- Stop Gum Disease Before it Becomes a Major Health Issue
- Why Alfonso Ribeiro Is Grateful for Root Canal Treatment
- Have Your Loose Tooth Examined as Soon as Possible
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- January (6)
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- Keep up Regular Dental Care While You're Pregnant
- You may Need Orthodontic Treatment Before Obtaining Implants
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- Stay Hydrated in Winter for Better Year-Round Oral Hygiene
- Want to Keep Enjoying Winter Sports? Wear a Mouthguard!
- 2018
- December (6)
- Porcelain Veneers Might not be the Best Option for Teenagers
- Why Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Couldn't Have Braces
- Dental Care is Difficult but not Impossible for a Special Needs Child
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- November (6)
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- Don't Let GERD Ruin Your Teeth's Health
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- October (6)
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- September (6)
- Make Efforts to Protect Your Teeth from Disease While Wearing Braces
- Look at Your Options for Saving a Tooth First Before Replacing it
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- August (6)
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- (Don't) Break It Like Beckham
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- July (7)
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- Fan of Superhero Film Black Panther Breaks Steel Wire...with Her Mouth!
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- The Parent-Dentist Partnership: Establishing Better Oral Health for Your Child
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- March (5)
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- 2017
- September (6)
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- May (5)
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- Instill in Your Child the Daily Habit of Brushing and Flossing
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- Actress Emma Stone Reveals How Thumb Sucking Affected Her Teeth
- Don't Let Sleep Apnea Ruin Your Sleep - or Your Health
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- 2016
- March (9)
- Good Oral Hygiene Just as Important for Implants as for Natural Teeth
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- Get Relief from Cracked Corners of the Mouth
- Treating Gum Abscesses and the Underlying Gum Disease
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- Although a Global Problem, Tooth Decay can be Prevented
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- February (7)
- Advancing Gum Disease Requires Thorough Treatment to Control it
- Persistent Jaw Pain After an Injury Needs Immediate Attention
- Is There a Link Between Gum Disease and Cardiovascular Health?
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- 2015
- December (5)
- Nancy O'Dell on Making Oral Hygiene Fun for Kids
- Implant-Based Removable Dentures a Good Choice for Patients with Extensive Bone Loss
- Treating Dry Mouth is Important for Maintaining Good Oral Health
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- May (7)
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- America's (Dentists) Got Talent - for Fixing Damaged or Missing Teeth!
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- Follow in Vanna White's Footsteps and Replace That Missing Back Tooth
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- Spice Up Your Teeth
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- 2014
- September (5)
- Saving a Baby Tooth is the Best Option for Permanent Tooth Development
- Removing Bacterial Plaque is Critical to Halting Advancing Gum Disease
- Be Extra Vigilant for Signs of Gum Disease During Pregnancy
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- April (5)
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- Implant Overdentures: a Marriage of Options for Lower Jaw Tooth Replacement
- 2013
- 2012
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