3 Reasons to Wear a Mouthguard

Sports are a great way to stay in shape, have fun, or test your skills against other players. In Texas, football and baseball are the most commonly played and spectated sports, but other sports flourish within local, regional, and statewide communities. Of course, each sport comes with specialized equipment. Baseball? At the very minimum, you will need a bat, glove, and ball. Football requires pads, helmets and a ball. While other games such as hockey and lacrosse all demand specialized equipment.

However, there is one piece of equipment common between many sports, yet something that many players forget: a mouthguard. What is this, exactly? A mouthguard is a piece of rubbery plastic that fits into your mouth and sheathes your top set of teeth. Many players would rather not go to the trouble of properly using and cleaning a mouthguard. You don’t exactly need one to play, right? Yes, you do not need one to perform, but here are three reasons why you should use a mouthgaurd:

 

#1: Protect Your Teeth

A mouthguard’s primary purpose is to protect your teeth while you perform in sports. In the heat of the moment, time is like a blur and some things happen too fast for you to react. Something may strike you in the head or mouth–a fist, an elbow, a foot, a ball, or a bat–that can cause serious damage to unprotected teeth. Common injuries include chipped teeth, cracked teeth, or even teeth knocked completely out of your mouth. Mouthguards prevent these injuries from happening by utilizing the rubbery plastic to absorb the shock of the blow. You may have already spent good money whitening your teeth and straightening your smile, so it makes perfect sense to protect your investment.

 

#2: Protect Your Jaw

A mouthguard not only protects your teeth while playing sports, but also has the ability to protect your jaw. A blow or strike to the head, in the right spot and with enough intensity, can result in a jaw injury. Mouthguards cushion the force of the impact. Where the force may have crushed the soft tissue and bone in your jaw, a mouthguard absorbs much of the shock and can prevent injury. According to the Australian Dental Association, “thousands of children are treated for dental injuries, which could have been prevented, or the severity minimized, by wearing a protective mouthguard”.

 

#3: Save Money

 

While custom-fitted mouthguards can lean on the expensive side, you can purchase a standard mouthguard anywhere between $10 – $30. Compare this to the price of fixing chipped teeth, cracked teeth, or replacing missing teeth all together — procedures that can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Save yourself some money!

 

Interesting in learning more about this essential piece of equipment? Have you sustained a sports-related dental injury? Your friends at Greenspoint Dental are here to help. We will be happy to answer all of your questions or schedule you an appointment. Contact a dentist in Houston Texas today.