Stick It In Your Mouth

All too often I’ll receive a call from a frightened parent whose kid has just had an accident involving front teeth being injured during athletics. Fortunately, these accidents can be prevented or minimized. Although most people realize that schools require athletes to wear protective mouth guards while playing football or ice hockey, many don’t realize that baseball, basketball and soccer are also hazardous for the teeth. I’ve also seen oral trauma associated with boxing, swimming, wrestling, bicycling, surfing, waterskiing, rollerskating, tennis, racquetball and volleyball.

Properly fitting mouth protectors have dramatically reduced the number of injuries to the teeth, lips, heads and necks which occur during contact sports. In football, for instance, it’s estimated that injuries have been reduced by 50% or approximately 200,000 less each year. I therefore strongly recommend using mouth guards.

There are three types available. The first type are stock mouth protectors. These are not fitted to the mouth but are bought in the approximate size needed. They are the least expensive, but tend to fit poorly, uncomfortably, and can interfere with speech and/or breathing. They can only be held in place by keeping the jaws closed. The second type is much better. These are mouth formed protectors. The best of these are the kind which are softened in boiling water and then fitted to the mouth. The third type is the custom-made protector. These are made by a dentist on a cast of the athlete’s mouth. They are the most expensive but probably the best from the standpoint of fit, comfort, retention and ease of speech. If the custom-made protector is too costly it is not a bad idea to get the mouth formed type and have it fitted by a dentist.

Whichever type you choose to protect your teeth, or your children’s teeth, make sure it is always used, unless you are really into the Leon Spinks-William Perry look!

-Richard B. Shapiro, D.D.S. (404)523-2514
Reprinted from The Bond Community Star