Participating in sports has many benefits for your body and mind, but can sometimes impose a risk on your oral health.
Accidents can happen, even if you take precautions. That’s why a sports mouthguard is an important piece of protective gear for anyone playing contact or high-impact sports.
A well-fitted mouthguard can greatly lower the chance of dental injuries, jaw fractures, and concussions. Besides safety, mouthguards can also help with better athletic performance and save you money on dental repairs in the long run. This blog post will discuss 10 reasons why an athletic mouthguard is essential for athletes playing contact sports.
1. Protection Against Dental Injuries
One important function of an athletic mouthguard is to keep your teeth safe during sports. A dentist should always stress how vital this is, especially in contact sports where mouth injuries happen often. A good mouthguard fits well and acts like a cushion for your teeth. It absorbs the shock of an impact, which can help prevent minor injuries from turning into serious dental problems. This protection also helps your mouth’s soft parts, like your lips, tongue, and cheeks, reduce cuts and bruises.
Wearing a mouthguard helps athletes lower the chance of having chipped or broken teeth, root damage, and teeth being knocked out completely.
2. Prevention of Jaw Fractures
The force from a sports collision can heavily impact the jaw, and potentially cause fractures. Custom-fit mouthguards help protect the jaw by absorbing and spreading this force. By doing this, they lower the chance of injuries. They keep the jaw steady, reducing the risk of dislocation and fractures. This is especially important in contact sports like rugby and boxing, where a hit to the jaw can happen often.
By spreading the force of a hit over a larger area, custom-fit mouthguards lower the pressure on any one spot on the jaw, lessening the chance of a fracture.
3. Reducing the Risk of Concussions
Concussions are a major concern in contact sports. Research shows that mouthguards can help reduce the magnitude of a concussion by absorbing the shock.
They also support the jaw, which helps lessen the force sent to the head during a hit.
Some studies also say that mouthguards, especially custom-fitted ones, can lower the chances of concussions by changing how the jaw lines up and by cushioning blows to the lower jaw. This can help lessen the force that reaches the skull.
4. Improved Athletic Performance
Athletic mouthguards are meant to protect teeth, so athletes worry less about their oral health during performance. A custom mouthguard fits well, making it easier for athletes to breathe and talk clearly. This is important for maximizing performance. When athletes wear a mouthguard, they don’t have to clench their jaws as much which helps lessen tension and tiredness in their facial muscles.
A relaxed jaw can lead to better airflow, boosting endurance and stamina. Also, the added sense of safety and lower anxiety from wearing a mouthguard lets athletes pay more attention to their performance.
5. Custom Fit for Comfort and Stability
One-size-fits-all mouthguards can be uncomfortable and ineffective for some athletes. They may not fit right and can negatively impact an athlete’s performance. In contrast, custom-fitted mouthguards take impressions of an individual person’s teeth. This ensures that the mouthguard fits snugly and stays in place.
Having a custom-fit mouthguard is very important. It better protects your mouth as it does not move during impacts.
A custom-fit guard also makes wearing the mouthguard more comfortable. It helps with breathing and speaking clearly. This way, athletes can talk easily with their teammates and coaches during games or practice.
6. Long-term Cost Savings on Dental Repairs
Investing in a good mouthguard helps prevent large oral health investments down the line. Investing in a mouthguard costs much less than fixing your teeth from a sports injury. Dental work can be very costly as serious injuries might require multiple treatments. You can avoid or at least lessen dental damage by using a mouthguard.
7. Compliance with Sports Safety Regulations
Many sports organizations have implemented mandatory or strongly recommended mouthguard use for athletes, particularly in contact and collision sports. These regulations are crucial for ensuring the safety of athletes and promoting a culture of prevention within the sports community.
By wearing a mouthguard, athletes comply with these regulations, demonstrating their understanding of the importance of safety and their responsibility towards their own well-being and the well-being of their fellow athletes.
8. Enhanced Focus During Games
Staying focused during a game is very important for athletes’ performance. If a mouthguard does not fit well, it can be very distracting. Athletes might need to keep adjusting it, which takes their mind off the game. Custom-fitted mouthguards are a great solution. They fit comfortably and stay in place, helping athletes concentrate on the game without worrying about their mouthguards moving around.
Better focus leads to better performance. Athletes can react faster and make quick choices without a distracting mouthpiece getting in their way.
9. Protection Against Soft Tissue Injuries
Mouthguards do more than protect teeth and jaws. They also keep the soft tissues in and around the mouth safe. When there is an impact, a mouthguard helps to soften the force. This can stop cuts or bruises on the lips, cheeks, tongue, and gums. This protection is very important in sports, where contact happens a lot.
The mouthguard works like a shield. It keeps the teeth away from the soft tissues, stopping them from being hurt during a hit. The cushion of the mouthguard spreads out the impact force, reducing the severity of soft tissue injuries.
10. Easy Maintenance and Care
One major benefit of athletic mouthguards is that they are easy to care for. Unlike other sports gear, taking care of a mouthguard is simple. You just need to rinse it with cool water or use a special mouthguard cleaner after using it. This helps keep it clean and safe to use.
It’s also important to store the mouthguard in a case that lets air in when you are not using it. This helps stop bacteria from growing and keeps its shape.
With good care, an athletic mouthguard can last for many seasons.
Invest in a Mouthguard today!
Athletic mouthguards do more than protect your teeth. They also help you perform better. Wearing a mouthguard can prevent dental injuries, lower the chances of concussions, and help you stay focused during games. Contact Hassey Do Duy Dental Associates today for a custom-fit mouthguard.
