Sports and Oral Health
Swimmers Risk Stained Smiles, Chipped Teeth

Competitive swimmers may be at risk for developing yellowish-brown or dark-brown stains on their teeth, reports the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Athlete swimmers, who often swim laps more than six hours a week, expose their teeth to large amounts of chemically treated water. Pool water contains chemical additives like antimicrobials, which give the water a higher pH than saliva, causing salivary proteins to break down quickly and form organic deposits on swimmers’ teeth.

Sports and Oral Health
The Importance of Keeping Mouthguards Clean
Fractured teeth, neck injuries and abrasions in the mouth, also known as sports-related dental injuries, are ever present among athletes. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, sports-related dental injuries account for more than 600,000 emergency room visits each year. In some 200,000 cases annually, mouthguards have been known to avert oral injuries and cut the risk of concussion by 50 percent. While a mouthguard may be popular for its ability to prevent the injuries that may disfigure a person’s appearance, what many may not be aware of is the importance of proper maintenance, cleanliness and care to prevent disease transmission and infection.

Sports and Oral Health
Avoid Diver's Mouth Syndrome

Before you go scuba diving, see your dentist because this sport can lead to jaw joint pain, gum tissue problems or tooth pain. All of these symptoms add up to “diver’s mouth syndrome,” a condition that is caused by the mouthpiece and by the air pressure change involved in scuba diving – a sport that is enjoyed by about 4 million enthusiasts in the United States. At first, divers may not notice the discomfort in their mouth cased by an ill-fitting mouthpiece, but when they conclude their dive, they may notice the jaw joint pain or gum lacerations.

FAQs: Athletic Mouthguards

An athletic mouthguard is a flexible appliance that is worn during athletic and recreational activities to protect teeth from trauma. Custom-fabricated mouthguards are essential for preventing athletic oral/facial injuries, such as broken teeth, jaw fractures, cerebral hemorrhages, and neck injuries. Mouthguards are effective at moving the lips and cheeks away from the teeth, thus preventing cutting and bruising of these soft tissues - especially for those who wear orthodontic appliances. Wearing a mouthguard also may reduce the severity and incidence of concussions. Read on to learn more about how to keep kids' teeth safe while playing team sports.