Athletes in contact sports are at significant risk for traumatic injury to their teeth and mouth. It’s estimated 600,000 emergency room visits each year involve a sports-related dental injury.

Athletic mouth guards have become standard of care for safeguarding against sports-related oral injuries. The American Dental Association recommends mouth guards for 29 sports or exercise activities.

But do mouth guards actually prevent injury? Studies/research has shown the risk of an oral-facial injury in sports related activities was nearly two times greater without the wearing of a mouth guard.

All mouth guards are not alike. The stock, “off the shelf” mouth guard found in many retail stores with limited size offerings is the least expensive, but also least protective, of mouth guard types. Mouth-formed or “boil-and-bite” protectors, which are softened in boiling water and then molded to the patient’s bite/teeth, are better than the stock version.  However, the “boil and bite” often don’t cover all of the player’s back teeth.

The best option is a custom-designed guard made by a dentist for the individual patient. Although relatively expensive (costs range in the hundreds, compared with $25 or less for a stock guard), this type of guard provides the highest recognized level of mouth protection.

The bottom line: a mouth guard is a must for any sport that involves contact or high velocity objects of play. If you or a family member is a contact sport athlete, it’s essential you protect your teeth and mouth with a custom-fit, high quality mouth guard.