Don't be the victim of a preventable injury!
Wear a mouth guard. While mouth guards are not mandatory equipment in all sports, their worth is indisputable. Dentists see many oral and facial injuries that might have been prevented by the use of a mouth guard.
Facial injuries in nearly every sport can result in damage to teeth, lips, cheeks and tongue. Mouth guards cushion blows to the face and neck. A mouth guard should be part of every athlete's gear, no matter the sport. It's better to play it safe than face a devastating and painful oral injury.
Even adults are not free from the dangers of mouth injuries. Dentists treat many trauma injuries in weekend athletes. Whatever your age or sport, mouth guards are an important part of sports safety and your exercise routine. Do what you can to protect your smile and preserve your health.
Facts from ‘the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety’
- Dental injuries are the most common type of oro-facial injury sustained during participation in sports; the majority of these dental injuries are preventable.
- An athlete is 60 times more likely to sustain damage to the teeth when not wearing a protective mouth guard.
- The stock mouth guard which is bought at sports stores without any individual fitting, provide only a low level of protection, if any. If the wearer is rendered unconscious, there is a risk the mouth guard may lodge in the throat potentially causing an airway obstruction.
Facts from 'the American Dental Association and the California Dental Association'
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A properly fitted mouth guard reduces the chances of sustaining a concussion from a blow to the jaw.
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Mouth guards should be worn at all times during competition; in practice as well as in games.
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Contact your local dental society and association for information on dentists and mouth guard programs in your area.
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The American Dental Association recommends wearing custom mouth guards 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, wrestling.