Trauma is one of the most common reasons for teeth damage. The most common cause of trauma is of course motor vehicle accidents. However, you’d be surprised to learn that the second most common cause for dental trauma is sports. More specifically, contact sports such as boxing, soccer, and football. There are others: any sport that creates contact between players or competitors. That, of course, is one of the top 5 reasons to wear a mouthguard during sports. In addition, there are even more reasons – as we’ll explain below. Keep reading!
What Is a Mouthguard?
A mouthguard is most commonly made of EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate), a pliable polymer. It can be shaped using the boil-and-bite method, and is worn over teeth. Sometimes it covers the gums as well. It has the purpose of protecting these teeth from damage.
Top 4 Reasons to Wear a Mouthguard During Sports
1. Protection from Trauma
The first and foremost reason for wearing a mouthguard is to protect your teeth from damage. This could be direct damage as in cases of contact sports such as boxing, or in sports where trauma and impact is more common such as hockey or rugby.
2. Preserving Your Braces
Some sports are not known for severe contact – such as handball, for example. However, the patient may need an extra bit of protection. A great example of that is those who have braces. Braces are quite fragile, and simple knocks can damage them. For that reason, they need to be protected even if the chance of impact is minimal.
3. Protection of the Lips & Cheeks
As we mentioned, the mouthguard may be fashioned to cover the gums, which could protect them from damage in contact sports. In addition, the guard is worn under the lips, preventing them from mashing into the teeth – which could cause cuts and bruises.
4. Prevents Teeth from Being Knocked Out
How many times have you watched an MMA fighter with his two front teeth – or more – missing? This is usually a result of being hit repeatedly in the face. Those hits can cause damage and fractures. Alternatively, they can knock the tooth right out of your mouth. The mouthguard absorbs part of that blow and reduces the chances of teeth being knocked out.
Protecting your teeth from damage is of the utmost importance, as fixing them is usually costly. Here, you’ve learned the top 4 reasons to wear a mouthguard during sports. We hope that we’ve convinced you of such an important step if you our your family enjoy contact sports.
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