Back to school preparation and safety has take on a new meaning in 2020. If your child is going back to a classroom and participating in fall sports, make sure their new supplies include a mouth guard. Remember, the cost of a mouthguard is less expensive than the cost to treat a facial injury. Here’s some advice from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons:
Play it Safe With the Right Equipment!
There are 3 Types of Mouth Guards
- Stock mouth guards Pre-formed and may offer a bulky fit.
- Custom-fitted mouth guards Made by a dentist.
- Boil-and-bite mouth guards Made by softening in boiling water and placed in the mouth to shape.
Did You Know?
- Athletes are 60 times more likely to suffer harm to their teeth if they’re not wearing a mouth guard.
- 11%–18% of sports injuries are related to the face.
- 3%–39% of all dental injuries are sports-related.
- Children ages 7 to 11 are most vulnerable to sports-related mouth injuries.
- Males are 2 times more likely to experience a facial sports injury than females, most commonly injuring the two front teeth.
- $500 million is spent replacing and repairing the more than 5 million teeth injured or knocked out every year.
- 67% of parents admit their child doesn’t wear a mouth guard during organized sports.
Prevention is the Best Policy
You don’t have to play at the professional level to sustain a serious head injury. 100 percent of athletes in contact or
collision sports should wear a mouth guard.
Mouth Guards Should Be
- Fitted, so it does not misalign the jaw and throw off the bite
- Lightweight
- Strong
- Easy to clean
- The proper size to cover the upper and/or lower teeth and gums
Learn more about facial protection and mouth guards at: MyOMS.org/SaveFace
Sources: American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, www.MyOMS.org
www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Science%20and%20Research/Files/patient_69.ashx; Meadow D, Lindner G, Needleman H. Oral trauma in children. Pediatr Dent. 1994;6:248–51; Young, E. J., Macias, C. R., & Stephens, L. (2015). Common Dental Injury Management in Athletes. Sports Health, 7(3), 250–255. doi.org/10.1177/1941738113486077; Sports-Related Dental Injuries and Sports Dentistry, www.dentalcare.com/en-US/dental-education/continuing-education/ ce127/ce127.aspx; Sane J. Maxillofacial and dental injuries in contact team sports. Proc Finn Dent Soc. 1988;84(Suppl 6-7):1–45; Welch CL, Thomson WM, Kennedy R N Z Dent J. 2010 Dec; 106(4):137-42; Report: 2011 Protective Sports Gear Survey by the American Association of Orthodontists
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
