Mouthguards: Not just for professional athletes

Mouthguards: Not just for professional athletes

mouth surgery CharlottesvilleYou don’t have to be a professional athlete for a sports-related injury to lead to mouth surgery. Weekend warriors and elite athletes alike are at risk for significantly damaging facial trauma if they don’t wear the proper protective equipment.

To limit the likelihood that recreational activities will send them to the oral surgeon, patients should invest in a custom-crafted mouthguard to wear while playing contact sports. Some people even choose to wear a mouthguard while participating in other activities like rollerblading or skateboarding that involve a risk of falling.

Wearing a mouthguard can help to prevent serious, as well as more minor injuries like chipped teeth, by limiting the impact of any trauma to the jaw or teeth. A mouthguard absorbs some of the forces that might otherwise cause injury to the facial structures. It can also prevent the upper and lower jaws from hitting together with excessive force and limit damage to the soft tissues that could be caused by impact from bone and teeth.

In addition to reducing dental injuries, there’s some evidence that mouthguards can lessen the severity of other sports-related injuries, like concussions.

Some patients may prefer the convenience of a boil-and-bite mouthguard that can be purchased at a sporting goods store, but in reality, the custom-crafted devices have a better fit, which offers more protection. This is because these mouthguards are specifically designed based on the specifications of the patient’s unique facial structure.

A properly fitting mouthguard should feel comfortable and not interfere with your ability to breathe. Similarly, a quality mouthguard will not affect your performance on the field or court, either.

The custom mouthguard also should stay put while you’re in the game, so you won’t have to take a time-out to mess with your equipment.

Even if you’re just playing for the love of the game rather than a multi-million dollar salary, investing in a quality mouthguard is a wise decision. Talk to our team at Charlottesville Oral Surgery & Implant Centerabout a mouthguard so that you can avoid mouth surgery later.