Mouth Guards
What is a mouth guard?
A mouth guard is a flexible
appliance made out of plastic
that is worn in athletic and
recreational activities to protect
teeth from trauma.
Why should I wear a mouth
guard?
To protect your mouth from
injuries. The dental profession
unanimously supports the use of
mouth guards in a variety of
sports activities. More than
200,000 injuries to the mouth
and jaw occur each year.
Do mouth guards prevent
injuries?
A mouth guard can prevent serious
injuries such as concussions,
cerebral hemorrhages, incidents of
unconsciousness, jaw fractures and
neck injuries by helping to avoid
situations where the lower jaw gets
jammed into the upper jaw.
Mouth guards are effective in
moving soft issue in the oral cavity
away from the teeth, preventing
laceration and bruising of the lips
and cheeks, especially for those
who wear orthodontic appliances.
This information was compiled for General Dentistry. Your dentist cares about long-term dental health for you and your family and demonstrates that concern by
belonging to the Academy of General Dentistry. As one of the 35,000 general dentists in the United Sates and Canada who are member of the Academy, your dentists
participates in an ongoing program of professional development and continuing education to remain current with advances in the profession and to provide quality patient
treatment. Visit the AGD’s website at www.agd.org. You have permission to photocopy this page and distribute it to your patients.
ball, football, wrestling,
soccer, lacrosse, rugby, in-
line skating, martial arts as
well as recreational sports
such as skateboarding, and
bicycling should wear
mouth guards while
competing.
Why don't kids wear mouth
guards?
Parents are sometimes uninformed
about the level of contact and
potential for serious dental injuries
involved with sports in which the
child participates. Some, though
not all schools, reinforce the
health advantage of mouth guards
for their contact sports. Cost may
be another consideration, although
mouth guards come in a variety of
price ranges.
What are the different types of
mouth guards?
Stock mouth guard: The lowest
cost option is a stock item, which
offers the least protection because
the fit adjustment is limited. It
may interfere with speech and
breathing because this mouth
guard requires that the jaw be
closed to hold it in place. A stock
mouth guard is not considered
acceptable as a facial protective
device.
Mouth-formed protectors:
These mouth guards come as a
shell-liner and "boil-and-bite"
product. The
shell is lined with
acrylic or rubber. When placed in
an athlete's mouth, the protector's
lining material molds to the teeth
and is allowed to set.
Custom-made mouth
protectors: The best choice is a
mouth guard custom-made by your
dentist. It offers the best protection,
fit and comfort level because it is
made from a cast to fit your teeth.
How should I care for a mouth
guard?
Clean your mouth guard by
washing it with soap and
warm (not hot) water.
Before storing, soak your
mouth guard in mouthwash.
Keep your mouth guard in a
well-ventilated plastic
storage box when not in use.
Make sure the box has
several holes so the mouth-
guard will dry.
.Heat is bad for mouth
guards, so don't leave it in
direct sunlight or
in a closed automobile.
Don't bend your
mouth-guard when
scoring.
Don't handle or
wear someone
else’s mouth
guard.
Call your dentist
who made the mouth
guard if there are any
problems.
Updated July
1998
Sources: "Mouthguards Fight Weekend
Warrior Injuries', Dental Newvs, jul,v 1997;
David Kumamoto, DDS, Fellow of the
Academy and team dentist for the
University
of
1llinois-Chicago
Athletic
Department; "Mouthguards Can Save Your
Teeth From Serious Injury", Pennsylvania
Dental Association, Academy tor Sports
Dentistry, March 1998; Adaptation from the
University of Texas Health Science Center
at San Antonio Dental School Department
of Prosthodontics, Graduate Division; H.
Douglas
Mouge}:
DDS,
FAGD;
"Mouthguards aren't guarding enough
young adults", DentalNotes, September
1996; American Society for Testing and
Materials; Academy for Sports Dentistry;
"Mouthguard Survey", Pediatric Dentistry,
November/December
1997.
Illustrated
Dental
Dictiona,>, lOP Publishing Limited,
1987.
