Protecting your smile not only protects your teeth, it protects your confidence, wallet, and future oral health. Did you know that wearing a mouthguard can and should be worn for a variety of types of sports, not just contact sports? Injuries can occur in some of the most unlikely of sporting events and some of the most unusual and unheard of.
Uncommon Sports You Need a Mouthguard For
We are all familiar with American football and can even recall wrestlers with colorful mouthguards in place while competing in their matches. But have you ever given thought to some of the other less popular sports. If you play Basketball or Rugby, you are putting your mouth in harm’s way. Basketballs to the face can cause extensive damage and sit you on the bench.
A run in with an opponent’s elbow or the hard gym floor are unforgiving. Rugby is a high contact sport with plays that happen fast. Injuries are very common in this rapidly growing sport in the United States.
Some of the other lesser known sports are no less a danger to your mouth:
- Handball: this high paced sport played on a hard court requires a high level of technique and endurance. This high demand places a high risk on players.
- Lacrosse: taking a stick to the face is a sure way to receive an injury. Falls are common in this sport and while wearing a helmet offers an important measure of protection, cracks and chips to teeth are a common oral injury from the impact of a fall.
- Martial arts: Sparring with another student is an opportunity to take an unexpected kick to the face. Some takedowns and countermoves can bring an accidental knee to the mouth as well.
- Squash: and not the edible vegetable. Squash is played using a racquet to hit a ball against a wall. It is played with two people and therefore can be caught off guard by a stray ball or misplaced shot of the other player.
Extreme Sports
When participating in extreme sports such as bicycling, mountain biking, inline skating, skateboarding, and other events, injuries should be expected. In most cases other protective gear is worn such as knee and elbow pads, helmets and wrist guards. Adding another simple piece of well-fitted athletic gear can provide further protection.
Other sports not commonly thought of should be taking mouthguards seriously, such as:
- Horseback riding: A fall from these heights and speeds can be very unforgiving. Cross country events place riders in direct line of danger from fallen logs and rocks. Polo not only has the risk for a fall, it carries the risk of a mallet or bad shot to the face.
- Mountain climbing: rocks are stronger than teeth.
- Snowboarding or extreme skiing: snow is not always a fresh, soft powder to cushion a fall. At fast speeds on sometimes unpredictable snowfall, wipeouts happen and injury is not uncommon. Mouthguards are a way to protect teeth from branches on windy paths. Skis may pop off in a fall only to kick back and hit you on the mouth.
- Extreme ironing, extreme pogoing, free flying, and base jumping, are among some of the least known sports and carry some of the highest risk for injury to the face and mouth.
When it comes to sports, all pose a very real threat to injuring your mouth. Wearing properly fitting mouthguards can prevent restorative surgeries and even possibly expensive implants that would sit you on the sidelines for months. These inexpensive protective gear pieces can be found almost anywhere, including custom made from your dentist.
Please contact us if you have any questions about mouthguards.
