Anyone, young or old, who takes part in a sport that carries a risk of a knock to the face should wear a mouthguard.
What sports should I wear a mouthguard to play?
Mouthgaurds are essential for most contact sports, but they should also be used for other activities where injuries could occur.
Contact Sports
Football
Boxing
Rugby
Collision Sports
Basketball
Hockey
Water polo
Lacrosse
Netball
Baseball
Softball
Squash
Soccer
Cricket
General Activities
BMX bike riding
Horse riding
Skateboarding
In-line skating
Trampolining
Water skiing
Snow ski racing
Remember, wear a mouthguard whilst both playing and training so you’re always protected against mouth injury.
Why do I need a mouthguard?
First a couple of statistics to highlight the need for mouthguards:
According to Australian research, about one third of traumatic injuries to teeth are sports-related
The Sports Medicine Association reports that 50% of children experience some form of dental injury
Given the likelihood of a sports-related mouth injury, a mouthguard is an essential addition to most young sportspeople’s kit. A mouthguard helps to absorb the shock of a blow to the face and reduces the chance of suffering chipped or broken teeth, internal damage to a tooth, tooth loss and injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth.
Injuries like these can result in time off work or school, can be painful and disfiguring and may involve lengthy and expensive dental treatment. Think of the cost of a custom-fitted mouthguard as an insurance policy against mouth injuries.
