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Why it’s Important to wear Mouthguards

Every year a good number of people suffer from dental injuries while playing a sports activity. It is for this reason that institutions like the National Federation of State High School Associations mandates the use of mouthguards for sports like football, ice hockey, lacrosse, and field hockey. Sports players are introduced to the importance of mouthguards in sports early on itself.

Parents should encourage their children to wear a mouthguard while playing sports. A mouthguard can help prevent serious injuries. Here is a list of benefits of using a mouthguard while playing sports.

Mouthguards can protect against injury to soft tissues

Imagine being hit by a football in the face. You stand a serious risk of losing your teeth but also of hurting other areas of your mouth. Even if you end up biting your lip due to the impact, it will result in a serious injury. You might even have to get stitches or a plastic surgery done to fix the damage done to the soft tissue in your facial region. All this can be easily prevented if you wear a mouthguard while playing.

They can prevent jaw fractures

Sometimes players get hit on the head, this leads to the teeth coming in contact with one another. This, in turn, leads to a jaw fracture. But, when you wear a mouthguard, it acts as a shield and reduces the impact of the blow on your jaw and teeth. Jaw fractures can be extremely painful and might require you to undergo a surgery. Hence, it is better to avoid that by simply wearing a mouthguard while playing.

They can help avoid teeth fracture

Yes, it’s not just your jaw, hands, or legs that can get fractured while playing, but even teeth are at a risk of being fractured. When you wear a mouthguard, it prevents your teeth from breaking. It reduces the impact of the ball or object directed towards you, thereby reducing the damage to your teeth. So, even if your teeth are affected, they can easily be treated with proper dental treatment.

They can help prevent concussions

There are conflicting opinions on whether or not mouth guards can prevent concussions in the event of an injury. Typically, the padding of the mouthguard can prevent the jaw from pushing the skull near the brain, thereby reducing the chance of a concussion.

These were some of the key benefits of wearing a mouthguard for sports players. We hope you have understood the importance of mouthguards in sports. Make sure to never forget wearing one while playing sports!