Sports and Oral Health
What is a Mouthguard?

A mouthguard is a flexible appliance that is worn in athletic and recreational activities to protect teeth from trauma. The dental profession unanimously supports the use of mouthguards in a variety of sports activities because they can prevent serious injuries such as broken teeth, jaw fractures, cerebral hemorrhage and neck injuries. They may also reduce the severity and incidence of concussions. Click here to learn more!

Sports and Oral Health
Keep Mouthguards Clean to Prevent Infection
In some 200,000 annual cases of sports-related dental injuries, mouthguards have been known to avert oral injuries and cut the risk of concussion by 50 percent. However, while a mouthguard may be popular for its ability to prevent the injuries that may temporarily and sometimes permanently disfigure a person’s appearance, what many may not be aware of is the importance of proper cleanliness and care to prevent disease transmission and infection.

Sports and Oral Health
Women Need to be "On Guard" when it Comes to Athletics

Before you or your daughter take the field to participate in sports, make sure your protective gear includes a mouthguard. Contact sports such as football and hockey are usually associated with orofacial injuries and require protective mouthguards; however, findings show that soccer players are more likely than football players to sustain an orofacial injury, while basketball players have a risk up to 15 times that of football players. Read more about how you can keep your mouth safe.

FAQs: Dental Emergencies

People risk breaking their teeth or otherwise injuring their mouths while eating, playing, exercising, and participating in other seemingly harmless activities. Dental emergencies can occur when your tooth breaks, cracks, becomes loosened, or is knocked out completely. It’s important to understand what precautions you should take and what to do in case of a dental emergency so that your tooth can be repaired when you are able to see a dentist.