The start of the fall sports season is an exciting time. Every team has something to look forward to at this time of year.
But regardless of whether you are playing for fun, playing to improve on last year’s performance, or playing for championships, you should be doing one thing: wearing an athletic mouthguard.
For some sports, this is a required piece of equipment, but you should know that mouthguards are strongly recommended for most sports by the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and other professional dental organizations.
That’s why we are happy to make custom-fitted mouthguards for you and your loved ones at any of our general dentist offices in Lexington, KY. If you are planning to play a sport this fall or this winter, make plans to visit Beaumont Family Dentistry soon. Call us at 859-554-1772 (Beaumont office), 859-554-1612 (Hamburg office), or 859-554-4049 (Leestown office) to make your appointment.
Protect Your Teeth
The ADA estimates that 3 million dental injuries occur every year during youth sports. The AAPD also reports that basketball and baseball (not the sports most people expect) actually cause the most dental injuries among youth athletes.
This is why both of those organizations argue in favor of wearing mouthguards during practices and games for any high-impact sport.
In brief, you should wear a mouthguard if your sport requires changing speeds or directions, jumping, physical contact between players, throwing, striking or catching objects (with golf being one exception), or any combination of those things.
For some sports, like football and wrestling, mouthguards are considered a necessary piece of equipment. For many other sports, they are optional, but it’s an option we hope you will choose to use for the sake of your teeth.
Injuries can happen at any time on the field or the court. A ball or puck can hit you on the jaw or the face. You could get elbowed or tripped accidentally. Even jumping and landing can cause you to bite down harder, which can injure your jaw joint or damage your teeth.
A mouthguard provides a cushion to reduce your risk of injury. In fact, athletes who don’t wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to suffer broken or knocked-out teeth.
Save Your Winning Smile
Your choice of mouthguard matters, too.
To understand the difference in protection, just think about your own care. Wearing a seat belt makes a big difference in everyday driving conditions, but there’s a reason professional drivers wear five-point harnesses in races. The custom-fit means better comfort and better protection.
Boil-and-bite mouthguards are easy to find. You can get them at nearly any sporting goods department or store. Unfortunately, many of these are bulky and uncomfortable to wear. Their size can make it hard to breathe or speak, and you’ll probably have to remove your mouthguard to stay hydrated.
At our Lexington offices, you can get custom-fitted mouthguards for yourself and the people you love. These mouthguards offer better protection (much like a five-point harness we mentioned above) than the boil-and-bite style. Custom mouthguards are smaller, too. That makes it easier to breathe, take a drink between plays, and speak to your teammates on the field without removing it.
Wearing the right protective gear — including athletic mouthguards — can keep you playing for a long time. Visit Beaumont Family Dentistry soon. Call 859-554-1772 (Beaumont office), 859-554-1612 (Hamburg office), or 859-554-4049 (Leestown office). You also can contact us online to request an appointment.