You are ready to cheer on your favorite player. He’s been playing Little League for years, and you’ve watched him steadily become more skilled.
He’s up to bat. He steps into the box, lines himself up, and focuses on the pitcher. The pitch comes, and he gets a piece of the ball.
Then you see his head snap back. He drops the bat and grabs his mouth. The foul took a weird bounce and struck him in the mouth. You can tell he’s in pain, but he appears to be OK.
He smiles and gives you a wave. You can see the sports mouthguard that he is wearing.
You are so glad you got his mouthguard at Relax Dental.
Just call (336) 841-0000 for our High Point location or (336) 226-4714 to visit us in Burlington, NC.
Don’t Lose Your Winning Smile
Sports are wonderful. We want you and your loved ones to keep playing as long as possible.
You know that sports come with a risk of injury, and that includes dental injuries. This also is why wearing a mouthguard is so important for anyone playing a high-impact sport.
How do you know if you are playing a high-impact sport? Just answer these questions:
- Do people jump as part of your sport?
- Is physical contact between athletes part of your sport?
- Do people change direction, speed, or both while playing your sport?
- Do people throw or strike things (e.g. balls and pucks) while playing your sport?
If you said yes to just one of those questions, you are probably playing a high-impact sport.
Mouthguards are required for sports like football and wrestling, but they are strongly recommended for many, many more sports.
Studies have shown that your risk of a dental injury goes up significantly if you do not wear a mouthguard. Specifically, athletes who don’t wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to have dental injuries than athletes who do wear them.
You also might be surprised by which sports lead to the most dental injuries. Among youth athletes between 7 and 17 years old, baseball and basketball players are the most likely to suffer dental injuries, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
Get the Right Fit
You have your choice of a wide variety of mouthguards. Wearing any mouthguard is better than nothing, but all mouthguards are not created equal.
You can get:
- Stock Mouthguards – These are pre-formed and intended to be worn as is. These are often bulky and can be uncomfortable to wear.
- Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards – You have probably seen these in your local sporting goods store or the sporting goods section of a retail store. These are a step up from the stock mouthguards, but often these are bulky as well.
- Custom Mouthguards – These are made from a mold of the athlete’s teeth. That custom fit makes them more comfortable to wear and provides the best protection. They are typically smaller, too, which means you can breathe, speak, and stay hydrated without feeling like you need to take your mouthguard out.
You can get custom mouthguards at our practice. While we can help with a dental emergency, we would rather take steps to prevent that from happening if possible.
Keep in mind that mouthguards, much like seat belts in a car, won’t stop an accident from happening. However, wearing one could be the difference between a serious injury and a minor one. Would you prefer to have broken teeth or just a sore lip?
Stay Ready to Play
Make sure any athletes in your family have what they need to compete. That includes having the right equipment, which should include a custom sports mouthguard.
Save those winning smiles! Call Relax Dental today at (336) 841-0000 in High Point or (336) 226-4714 in Burlington, NC! You also can request an appointment online.