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Around 80% of Americans participated in some sports and physical activities in 2023, indicating a surge of healthy lifestyles. However, such activeness comes at a risk of sports injuries. According to recent statistics published by the American Dental Association, the prevalence of dentofacial injuries among collision sports participants is 27.6%.
Further research has concluded that the risk of getting exposed to orofacial injury is 1.9 times higher among players who don't use any type of dental sports mouth guard. All these statistics evidently emphasize the importance of wearing a combat sports mouth guard. However, this is not it; there is still a bigger picture left.
Here we have compiled 5 reasons why sports guards are non-negotiable for kids and adults engaged in any physical combat or interactive sports.
First Things First: Your Safety
As the name suggests, the primary role of a sports guard is to offer the ultimate shield to your teeth. For this purpose, sports guards are made of high-impact, durable plastic to ensure supreme protection.
Here we have mentioned a number of dental injuries that come under the protection radar of sports guards.
Teeth Damage
Teeth are primarily at risk of damage due to dental trauma. While playing, a sudden push, fall, or any type of sudden shock may make your teeth prone to:
- Chips
- Cracks
- Fractures
- Partial or extended tooth dislodgement
- Avulsion (tooth loss)
In order to prevent this teeth damage, specialists necessitate wearing mouth guards, especially with a custom fit to efficiently cover the upper arch.
These guards aid in protecting your teeth from external pressure when they are subjected to abrupt blows or pressure. To reduce the effects and provide the most protection, they absorb the most pressure and disperse the remaining pressure evenly throughout the mouth.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Regardless of your outstanding abilities, the soft tissues lining your mouth remain vulnerable to injury. While jogging or doing any other physical activity, you may trip and accidentally bite your cheek or tongue, causing a rupture and bleeding. Furthermore, it creates wounds on the tongue and the lips' epidermal layer.
By incorporating a sports guard into your routine, you can significantly reduce the risk of such injuries and avoid potential surgical repairs. The guard acts as a protective barrier, covering your mouth and preventing accidental bites to your oral tissues. Instead, you bite into the guard, minimizing harm to the soft tissues.
Jaw Fractures
Jaw fractures are clearly one of the most feared concerns, especially during close combat. Why? Unlike other orofacial injuries, they do not just require major surgery but, in extreme cases, also demand months of rehabilitation.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET A STRONG PUNCH?
When you get a hit or sudden blow, the extreme pressure causes the teeth to clash with each other. However, due to a lack of space and flexibility, the pressure is directed to the jaws causing fracture.
Wearing a custom sports mouth guard absorbs the shock reaching your jaws and minimizes it to sustain any considerable damage.
Damaged Dental Roots
Sports injuries have an equally massive impact on invisible parts of mouths like dental roots. These roots play a crucial role in nourishing teeth by facilitating blood flow, as they are securely embedded in the jawbone.
As evident from their purpose, the strength and health of these roots determine the longevity of your teeth. If, due to any factor, teeth are dislodged or shifted, either partially or completely, their connection to roots is severed, obstructing the blood supply.
This disruption cuts off the blood supply, causing the teeth to die. Over time, bacteria from the dead teeth can spread, leading to infections that harm nearby teeth, gums, and surrounding tissues.
In such scenarios, sports guards serve as a savior. By cushioning your teeth and roots during physical activities, they help prevent damage and maintain their structural integrity.
Other Chronic Injuries
Apart from oral injuries, lethal moves may also lead to chronic injuries like neck injuries, concussions, and even cerebral hemorrhage. However, they can be prevented by the mere use of custom-fit sports guards.
Improved Oxygen Intake
Intense physical activities or sports demand exceptional stamina and a steady, unobstructed oxygen supply to enhance performance. With the help of sports guards, you can improve the oxygen uptake.
The guards relax the jaws and help to streamline the air passageway, hence a navigable oxygen intake and prevention from immature fatigue.
Pro Tip: Sports guards are encouraged while training as well to improve stamina and endurance.
Preserve Restorative Orthodontic Treatments
If you are an athlete and undergoing any orthodontic treatment or enhancement like veneers, braces, permanent retainers, or crowns, it goes without saying that guards are a compulsion.
Mouth guards not only protect these dental treatments from damage but also prevent them from causing harm. For instance, braces can irritate or injure soft tissues in the mouth during collisions, or any misalignment or damage to the braces can disrupt the entire treatment plan.
A properly fitted mouth guard acts as a barrier, safeguarding both your dental work and the surrounding oral structures, ensuring uninterrupted progress and safety.
Cheaper Than Dental Surgeries
Some people think that dental guards are very expensive; hence, they choose to skip them. Let’s bust this myth! On doing a cost analysis on a deeper scale, it is deduced that investing in customized sports guards is way cheaper than undergoing any surgical operation.
Moreover, superior quality customized mouth guards have a long shelf life, as much as 5 years! Hence, more durability and fewer replacements. Apart from a financial perspective, it is also time-saving. It can take up to 2-3 weeks to get your customized sports guards.
Contrary to that, a dental surgery or procedure requires endless doctor’s consultations, rehabilitation, and follow-up meetings, consuming extra time. So, investing in mouth guards is a win-win situation.
Snugged Fit and Comfort
Here are some additional secondary benefits of sports guards:
- Confidence is the key to victory. When you are mentally at peace and feel you are secure, your progress increases tremendously.
- Customized sports guards comply with your oral dimensions, hence offering immense comfort and snug fit.
- A well-fitted mouth guard allows you to breathe without any hurdles. It also allows athletes to eat and speak effortlessly.
Conclusion
Every smile is different, so purchasing standard sports guards isn’t enough. You will neither get the required comfort nor the potential benefits. At ALIGNERCO, we offer tailored mouth guards, including customized thickness to align with your activity level and sports.
We ensure our guards offer the utmost protection, comfort, and snug fit at the best prices, so you can focus on the bigger concerns i.e. improve your game. Connect with our specialists right away to get the care you actually deserve!
FAQs
1. When is the ideal time to replace my sports guard?
Ideally, if you are an athlete playing regularly, it is recommended to replace your guards at the end of the sports season. Otherwise, typically we recommend changing them after every 6-12 months, especially if you are at a growing age.
2. What are the types of sports mouth guards?
Generally, there are three types of sports guards i.e. stock guards, boil-and-bite mouth guards, and lastly custom-fit sports mouth guards. According to specialists, the last type offers the best fit, comfort, and protection.
3. How often should I clean my sports guards?
We recommend you clean your sports guard before and after wearing them.
4. Where should I store my guards when not using them?
Keep them in a specialized ventilated case to avoid any germs attack or bacterial build-up.
