Why You Should Always Wear a Mouth Guard in Sports

One of the major misconceptions about mouth guards is that they’re just for contact sports. 

After all, it’s easy to understand why protecting your teeth and mouth would be necessary in something like MMA or rugby.  But as it turns out, it’s actually an important piece of safety equipment for the majority of athletes to be wearing in general.

Here’s why mouth guards are necessary for most sports, and why you (or your child) should probably be wearing one on the court or the field.

Why Mouth Guards Should Be Worn in Most “Non-Contact Sports”

When it comes to classifying sports, one of the more problematic distinctions is between “contact” and “non-contact”.

The contact category is fairly obvious - we can all agree that rugby, football, hockey and combat sports are pretty rough, and no one would seriously argue that you don’t need a mouth guard when participating in them.

But many of the sports that have been labelled non-contact really shouldn’t be.  Soccer and basketball all require a degree of contact with other players, and this can (and often does) result in blows to the head and mouth.

And even in sports that don’t, trauma to the head can still occur.  Gymnasts and track and field athletes are at risk of falls, and these accidents that can have serious dental consequences.

How Mouth Guards Protect Your Teeth

The case for mouth guards in sports has been well made over the last few decades.  Mouth guards are effective at reducing the risk of concussions by absorbing shock and providing stability.

But they also go a long way to protecting your mouth and teeth.  

Your tongue, lips and cheeks are all soft tissue that needs protection if you get hit in the face, and wearing a mouth guard can help cushion your teeth against a blow and minimize the risk of anything getting broken or knocked out as a result of the impact.

Why A Blow To The Face Is Serious Business

Over the last few decades, there’s been an increasing awareness of the consequences of head injuries.  Whereas concussions were once thought of as “no big deal”, most medical professionals and coaches now understand just how serious they can be.

Unfortunately, that same awareness doesn’t seem to extend to the mouth.  And it’s really too bad - because not only is having your tooth knocked extremely painful, it can also have serious long-term consequences.  

What many people don’t realize is that when you lose one of your teeth, you actually begin to lose bone density in the affected area.  Replacing it, either with a bridge or with a dental implant, can also be extremely costly, with implants ranging in the thousands of dollars.

What To Look For In A Mouth Guard

So, given that a lot of this damage can be avoided by investing in a good mouth guard in Livonia, here’s what you need to know when buying one.

The first is that they should be comfortable.  The end of the day, most people are far more likely to actually wear a mouthguard each and every time they practice and play if it’s comfortable (particularly if it’s for your adolescent child who probably isn’t exactly keen to be wearing one to begin with).

It should also fit properly.  While the preformed variety may be cheaper, their poor fit makes them more likely to fall out and offer far worse protection than one that’s actually molded to fit your mouth.

Molded mouth guards can be purchased in most sporting goods stores (these are usually the “boil and bite” variety).  They can also be custom made by a dentist in Livonia to make sure they fit your mouth both comfortably and optimally to protect your smile on the court or field.