Mouthguards and Dental Emergencies
The importance of mouthguards:
A mouthguard, usually a flexible piece of plastic that fits into the mouth, should be worn during all recreational and athletic activities to protect the mouth and teeth from serious injury - especially activities where there is contact or potential contact with another person, piece of equipment, or the ground. In particular, mouthguards should be worn during the following sports:
- football
- soccer
- rugby
- wrestling
- baseball
- softball
- lacrosse
- field hockey
- ice hockey
- martial arts
- boxing
Some of these sports require the use of a mouthguard at the amateur level.
Many recreational activities such as skateboarding and bicycling, also pose a risk of injuring the mouth and teeth. Exercise caution during these activities.
Mouthguards and preventable injuries:
Injuries to the teeth, mouth, and head may include the following, many of which could be prevented with proper and consistent use of a mouthguard:
- dislodged or knocked out tooth/teeth
- concussion
- cerebral hemorrhage
- broken or chipped tooth
- bitten or lacerated tongue and/or lip
- objects caught/lodged between the teeth
- jaw fracture
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