When involved in high impact sports or vigorous activities, it is important to protect your mouth and teeth. This statement is backed by the fact that there are over 600,000 sports-related dental injuries treated in emergency rooms across the US each year according to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
In addition to absorbing and distributing the forces that impact the mouth, teeth, face and jaws an athlete receives while participating in sports such as baseball, football, basketball, hockey (ice and field), skateboarding and wrestling, the American Dental Association (ADA), also recommends the use of custom mouthguards for other activities such as acrobatics, bicycling, handball, racquetball, skiing, and even weightlifting.
These facts make two things clear: (1) it is vital that you obtain a professionally made mouthguard that you wear during these types of activities and (2) that you also understand how this mouthguard protects you. Below are just a few ways.
- Lacerations. A custom-fit, professionally made mouthguard covers the sharp surfaces of the teeth to protect the soft tissues of the cheeks, lips, gums and tongue from lacerations that can occur from a blow or sudden jolt.
- Mouth Impact. Just as a mouthguard protects against soft tissue lacerations, it can also help prevent injuries to the jaws and teeth. This includes but is not limited to chipped teeth, fractured teeth, broken teeth and teeth that are partially or fully knocked out of their natural position.
- TMJ (jaw joint) Trauma. Wearing a properly fitted mouthguard can reduce the potential for jaw displacement and joint fractures by cushioning the jaws against damage from an impact.
- Direct Jaw Impact. Anytime a person receives a direct impact to his/her jaw, having a mouthguard in place may help prevent more serious injuries to teeth and jaws. This is especially important for anyone diagnosed with TMJ.
- Jaw Fracture. A custom-fit, professionally made mouthguard both absorbs and distributes impact forces so that jaws are protected. And it is this reduction in force that can help prevent the jaws from fractures.
- Under Chin Impact. Receiving a blow under the chin can obviously damage teeth; however, it can also cause damage to the jaws as well as inflame or cause TMJ issues.
You can learn more about mouthguards by continuing to read the Dear Doctor magazine article “Athletic Mouthguards.” Or you can contact us today to schedule an appointment.
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Belton
561 North Scott Ave. Suite A
Belton, MO 64012
(816) 331-4333
fax: (816) 318-8178
Adrian
20 E. Main St.
Adrian, MO 64720
(816) 297-2297
Archive:
- 2018
- November (6)
- Moderate Your Child's Juice Drinking to Lower Tooth Decay Risk
- Diabetes and Oral Health: True or False?
- TMD and Fibromyalgia Could Share Links in Chronic Pain
- The Connection Between GERD and Oral Health
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- October (6)
- Keep up Regular Dental Care While You're Pregnant
- Don't Stress Over Your Child's Teeth Grinding Habit Unless it Persists
- New Dental Advances Promise Better Outcomes for Treating Decay
- What You Should Know About a Home Teeth Whitening Kit
- Be Sure to Have a Dental Exam Before Whitening Your Teeth
- Although a Challenge, Chronically Ill Children Need Tooth Decay Prevention
- September (6)
- 4 Reasons You Should Begin Your Child's Dental Visits by Age One
- Office Fluoride Treatments Can Add Extra Protection to Your Child's Teeth
- Effective Oral Hygiene is Key to Disease Prevention While Wearing Braces
- Treating Gum Disease around Tooth Roots is Hard - but Not Impossible
- See Your Dentist if You're Having one of These 3 Dental Problems
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- August (6)
- Have Your Loose Tooth Examined as Soon as Possible
- Advances in Dental Health that may be Waiting for us Just around the Corner
- Treating a Child's Tooth Injury May Require Special Consideration
- Sleep Apnea Might be Robbing you of More than a Good Night's Sleep
- Veneers may Offer a Less Invasive Way to Transform Your Smile
- 5 Causes of Bad Breath and What You Can Do About It!
- July (7)
- Some Patients Might Need Antibiotics Before Routine Dental Work
- A Second Root Canal Treatment May Help Save an Endangered Tooth
- Tooth-Colored Fillings Provide a Viable Alternative to Dental Amalgam
- What Happens in a Root Canal Treatment and How it Can Save Your Tooth
- Porcelain Veneers Could Change Your Appearance for the Better
- Need an Effective but Affordable Tooth Replacement? Look at a Flexible RPD
- Your Gum Tissue 'Biotype' Could Determine How Gum Disease Affects You
- June (6)
- Increase Bone Mass for Dental Implants through Grafting
- Saving a Diseased Primary Tooth Could Mean Better Oral Health Later in Life
- Gum Disease is Still a Threat to Your Dental Implants
- Watch What Carbs You Eat to Reduce Your Risk of Further Gum Disease
- Bone Grafting Might be Necessary Before You Obtain an Implant
- The Risk for Gum Disease Increases While Wearing Braces
- March (5)
- Periodontal Surgery may be Needed to Halt Gum Disease and Encourage Healing
- Prompt Treatment for Gum Disease Could Ultimately Save Your Teeth
- Provisional Restorations let you Try out Your New Smile First
- 3 Fluoride Sources You Should Monitor for Your Family's Dental Health
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- 2017
- December (5)
- The Perils of a Loose Permanent Tooth - and What to do About it
- Cosmetic Questions to Ask to Get You on the Right Path to a Better Smile
- Your Age Won't Necessarily Decide Against Straightening Your Smile
- Give Yourself the Gift of a New Smile
- Look at Your Options for Saving a Tooth First Before Replacing it
- September (5)
- A Teen with a Missing Tooth May Need to Wait on a Dental Implant
- Waiting to Afford Implants? Consider a Flexible RPD in the Meantime
- Risk Factors for Gum Disease
- Sedation Can Help Create a More Positive Dental Experience for a Child
- Stay Vigilant with Oral Hygiene to Avoid Another Bout of Gum Disease
- June (5)
- Loose Adult Teeth Require Immediate Attention and Treatment
- We may Need to Remove one or More Teeth Before Applying Braces
- A Smile Makeover Depends on Balancing Technique with Beauty
- Take Care of Your Dental Appliance to Extend its Longevity
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- 2016
- October (5)
- Extracting Certain Teeth can Boost Orthodontic Effectiveness
- Ease Your Child's Discomfort During Teething
- Keeping up Good Hygiene Still a Necessity with Dental Implants
- An Infected or Injured Primary Tooth Can Be Saved - but it's Complicated
- Make Efforts to Protect Your Teeth from Disease While Wearing Braces
- August (5)
- Antibiotics Could Help Ensure your Implant Surgery is Successful
- Root Planing Cleans Plaque from Tooth Roots Without Surgery
- See Your new Look Before Dental Work with a 'Trial Smile'
- Proper Brushing and Flossing Removes Disease-Causing Plaque
- Local Anesthesia Eliminates Pain Completely During Dental Work
- June (5)
- Replacing a Tooth or Saving it - Which Should you do?
- Getting the Full Picture of Your Decay Risk Leads to Better Prevention Strategies
- That Small Mouth Sore is Likely Nothing - but Still Have it Checked
- Home Whitening Kits are Safe and Effective, if Used the Right Way
- 4 Things You Should be Doing to Maintain a Healthy Mouth
- March (5)
- Implant-Supported Dentures - a Better Fit with Excessive Bone Loss
- Know the Kind of Smile You Want Before Cosmetic Dental Treatment
- 3 Tips for Minimizing Enamel Erosion from Sports Drinks
- Regular Screenings Could Help With Early Oral Cancer Detection
- Though not Always Seen, it's Still Important to Replace a Missing Back Tooth
- 2015
- December (5)
- Implant-based Overdentures may be a Better Long-Term Fit Option
- Treating Dry Mouth is Important for Maintaining Good Oral Health
- Your Dentist can Help Guide you in the Best Treatment Option for Sleep Apnea
- Limit Acidic Beverages to Protect Your Child's Tooth Enamel from Erosion
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- October (5)
- Your Veneers Have 'Staying Power' - if Cared for Properly
- A Root Canal Treatment may be Your Best Chance to Save a Tooth
- Keeping Fluoride to Just the Right Amount Protects Your Family's Smiles
- FAQs: Keeping Your Mouth Healthy After Gum Disease Treatment
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- 2014
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- August (7)
- Maintenance Manual for Your Teeth and Gums
- Lasers, An Important Dental Diagnosis Tool
- A Smile Makeover Can Help Boost Self-Confidence
- “Prepless” Porcelain Veneers: Are They Right For You?
- Bleaching — An Excellent Tool For Whitening Stained Teeth
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- 2011
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