5 Reasons to get Mouth Guards for Sports

May is National Physical Fitness & Sports Month, and with warmer weather and longer days, it’s a perfect time to get out and exercise. While exercise is great for your mind and body, it can be harmful to your teeth without the right protection.
Here’s why your mouth guard shouldn’t be forgotten:

1. The American Dental Association estimates that about one third of all dental injuries are sports-related.
2. Using a mouth guard is proven to reduce the risk of sport-related dental injuries, preventing over 200,000 of them every year.
3. Mouth guards protect against the following types of injuries: chipping or breaking teeth, damaging dental work like crowns or bridgework, injuring lips or cheeks, and fracturing the jaw.
4. Any athlete playing a sport should wear a mouth guard, but you should be especially vigilant when playing contact sports like football, hockey, or boxing. You should also wear a mouth guard when playing a sport where another athlete or ball could hit you in the face, like basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, or wrestling.
5. There are a few different types of mouth guards available, but getting one custom-made by your dentist will provide the most comfort and protection.

Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD, West Hartford dentist, and New Britain dentist, can make you a custom mouth guard to protect your smile and keep it looking great.