KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The mouth is one of the most commonly injured parts of the body while participating in sports activities. 

Dental injuries can be painful, expensive and permanent. For prevention of dental injuries, the sports mouth guard is considered an essential item of sporting equipment.
A mouth guard is a flexible appliance made out of plastic and worn during athletic and recreational activities to guard trauma from teeth. Additionally, this simple device does more than just protect the teeth. 

The mouth guard can prevent cuts and bruising of the lips and cheeks by cushioning the impact during trauma. A mouth guard can also help prevent more serious injuries such as concussions, jaw fractures, and neck injuries by decreasing the impact when the lower jaw gets jammed against the upper jaw. In many cases, a plastic sports guard can prevent teeth from fracturing or being "knocked out." 

There are three types of mouth guards: custom made, mouth formed, and ready-made. Your dentist professionally designs custom-made mouth guards that are made on a plaster cast model of your teeth. They are designed to cover all back teeth and protect the entire jaw which can prevent concussions caused by blows to the chin. 

Custom mouth guards may be slightly more expensive than commercially produced mouthpieces, but they offer the best possible fit and protection. They are secure in the mouth and do not interfere with speech or breathing. 

Mouth-formed or "boil and bite" sports guard are also available from your dentist or in stores. These protective mouthpieces are softened in hot water, allowed to cool slightly then formed around the teeth with light biting pressure. As the material cools and becomes more firm, it forms a semi-custom fit around the teeth. One disadvantage is these guards cannot be used by athletes who wear braces and over time, may become brittle from prolonged use. 

Ready-made, commercial mouth guards can be purchased at most sporting goods stores and are made of rubber or polyvinyl. They are the least expensive and may not fit as well. 

It is mandatory for parents to ensure their children are wearing a mouth guard while participation in official sports where a helmet and pads are worn. This is also true for high activity sports such as basketball, squash, hockey and soccer; where unintentional collisions can easily result in injury. While there is a greater chance for injury during contact sports, accidents can easily occur during non-contact sports so mouth guards are as important during these activities also. 

Parents, teachers and coaches need to be made aware of the dangers associated with failing to protect the mouth and associated sports trauma. Whatever your age or sport, mouth guards are an important part of your sports safety. 

For more information, please contact the Kadena Dental Clinic at 630-4902.