How Do Mouthguards Affect Sports

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EFFECTIVENESS OF MOUTHGUARDS IN CONTACT SPORTS
“In the United States, about 6 million youngsters take part in some kind of organized sports resulting in about 2 million injuries each year.”1 The majority of all dental injuries are associated with sports. These injuries can be prevented using a mouthguard. The mouthguard is defined as a “resilient device or appliance placed inside the mouth to reduce oral injuries, particularly to the teeth and surrounding structures.”2 There are different types of mouthguards: custom made, stock and boil and bite. A mouthguard works by absorbing shock and dissipating energy. Participation in any contact sport like football, wrestling, basketball and martial arts requires a mandatory wearing of a mouthguard. It is the responsibility of the dental professional to ask patients if they participate in any sports which can cause injury to teeth. Mouthguards are recommended for athletes because they provide protection without interfering with speech and breathing. Mouthguards should be used in all sports activities, which are prone to orofacial injury. Mouthguards are effective at preventing dental injuries related to …show more content…

They reduce laceration of soft tissue by separating teeth from soft tissue. Hence, bruising of lips, tongue and cheeks is prevented during the blow. They prevent fracture of the tooth or dislocations by cushioning the teeth from impact by redistributing the force of the blow over all the teeth. Mouthguards stabilize the mandible during traumatic jaw closure. “Mandible is afforded elastic, recuperative support can prevent fracture or damage to the unsupported angle of the lower jaw.”14 “It is also recommended that mouth guards should be worn on the maxillary teeth because maxillary anterior teeth are most susceptible to injury except in class III malocclusion because in that case, the mouthguard should be worn on the mandibular

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