It will be summer soon – and you know what that means? Summer sports camps and clinics; it’s sports time! Grab your shin pads, elbow pads, shoulder pads, helmets, straps, suits and mouth-guards.
According to nationwidechildren.org it is “estimated that 20 to 25 million youths participate in competitive sports. As a result of this growth in participation levels, incidence of injury has also increased. Some have reported sports to account for approximately 36% of all unintentional injuries to children and adolescents. Of those injuries, 10-20% of all sports related injuries are maxillofacial injuries according to the American Dental Association.”
I think it is safe to say that the mouth-guard is an extremely important part of an athlete’s uniform. Itis a protective shield that covers and cushions your teeth and gums. It will prevent and reduce injury by absorbing and distributing the force of impact received. However, you need to have a properly fitted mouth-guard in order to ensure adequate coverage. A well fit mouth-guard should be comfortable, resilient, tear resistant, not bulky but has sufficient thickness were needed.
Just in case the aforementioned information doesn’t convince you of the importance of mouth-guards, we got here the top 5 reasons below. A mouth-guard will:
- Protect against tooth fractures – Sports related dental injuries are responsible for more than 600,000 emergency room visits.
- Protect against knocking out a tooth – It is estimated that mouth-guard prevent more than 200,000 injuries each year.
- Protect against soft tissue injuries – Injuries to the mouth doesn’t always mean teeth. Getting hit in the mouth can cause just as much damage to your gums, cheeks, lips and tongue.
- Reduces the chance of concussion – the theory is that a mouth-guard places padding between the mandible and the maxilla. If you receive a hit to the mandible, this padding could lessen the force of the mandible pushing up on the skull near the brain. Reducing the likely of getting and concussion.
- Prevents injuries to the jaws and neck – Injury to the temporomandibular joint, otherwise known as TMJ, is one of the most common injuries in sports. Trauma to this joint can lead to joint pain, headaches, and pain in the muscles that control the jaw. A mouth-guard can cushion the direct and indirect forces of energy that can cause jaw and neck pain and discomfort.
- Mouth-guards won’t prevent injury but they can help prevent damage.
If you have an injuries and need dental help call our office (952)474-4123.