When playing sports, athletes are susceptible to dental injuries. These injuries can occur from collisions, falls, or contact with other players or hard surfaces. Dental injuries can be severe, often require expensive treatment, cause permanent damage, and even affect an athlete’s ability to perform. Athletes can reduce the likelihood of getting injured while playing sports by wearing a dental guard.

These guards help athletes protect their teeth and mouth during contact sports such as football, wrestling, boxing, or lacrosse. The materials used to make these guards absorb shock from impacts. Customized athletic guards are more comfortable than ready-made mouthguards because they are custom-fitted and made from less rigid materials. For more information, schedule an appointment with our dentist at California Center for Laser Dentistry.

Who Needs an Athletic Guard?

Athletes of all ages can benefit from wearing mouthguards, including children as young as eight who play sports like basketball or soccer. Mouthguards are an excellent option for athletes because they can protect your teeth from damage without interfering with the fit of your helmet, goggles, or other protective equipment. 

Because sports-related accidents can also happen in non-contact sports, we recommend using an athletic guard whenever possible. That’s because many injuries don’t involve direct contact with another player. Instead, they happen due to sudden impact to the face. This can occur when a baseball bounces off and strikes a player, for instance. Wearing a mouthguard can help prevent this kind of injury.

Benefits of Wearing an Athletic Guard

An athletic guard can help prevent common dental injuries, including tooth fractures and root damage. The plastic the guard is made from cushions the teeth and gums from sudden impacts, protecting against painful cracks or chips. If you wear braces, wearing a mouthguard can prevent your wires and bands from damaging or breaking.

Wearing an athletic guard can also help improve athletic performance by reducing the risk of dental injury that might otherwise cause an athlete to miss out on a game or practice. Athletes who participate in sports such as football, basketball, hockey, wrestling, gymnastics, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, track and field, martial arts, and more should wear an athletic guard to avoid injuries to the teeth, gums, lips, cheeks, face, and jaw. 

Mouthguards can also reduce the likelihood of concussions by protecting the mouth during an impact. Mouthguards should be worn for practices and games. Athletes participating in multiple sports should protect their teeth with a mouthguard for each sport.

A custom-fit mouth guard offers the best protection because it is made specifically for your teeth and designed to stay in place. To learn more about athletic guards, visit California Center for Laser Dentistry at 1844 San Miguel Dr #106, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, or call (925) 939-3997.