Protecting your teeth, your wallet

Published July 7, 2009
By Capt. Allen Pratt
52nd Dental Squadron

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- True or False? Only people participating in contact sports such as boxing, football, hockey and lacrosse need to use a sports mouth guard. If you answered true, you need to reassess how important your mouth and the contents of your wallet are to you.

A person participating in any sport is 60 times more likely to suffer harm to the teeth or jaw when not wearing a mouth guard, according to the Journal of American Dental Association, Volume 137, December 2006.

These injuries include cracked or broken teeth; jaw fractures; and lacerations to the lip, tongue and cheek that could result in long and potentially painful dental treatment and thousands of dollars in dental bills. Using a sports mouth guard is a much better option than possibly having root canal therapy, tooth extractions, stitches and walking around with missing front teeth.

The American Dental Association suggests everyone involved in sports talk to their dentist about a sports mouth guard. There are three types of sports mouth guards: the ready-made stock mouth guard, the mouth-formed "boil-and-bite" mouth guard and the custom-fitting mouth guard made by a dentist. All are good options for protecting the teeth and differ only in the level of comfort and color.

When deciding on a sports mouth guard, make sure it is resilient and tear-resistant, properly fitted, comfortable, easy to clean, and does not restrict speech or breathing.

The stock mouth guards and mouth-formed "boil-and-bite" mouth guards can be purchased at stores selling sporting equipment including the Power-Zone and Skelton Memorial Fitness Center. Custom mouth guards, only made by dentists, are the most expensive but provide the best comfort, fit and protection. People who wear orthodontic braces, have had extensive dental prosthetic work, have a protruding lower jaw or receding chin, or who participate in boxing or mixed martial arts, should wear a custom sports mouth guard.

Even if you are participating in non-contact sports such as basketball, baseball, gymnastics, skiing or skateboarding, wear a mouth guard to protect that beautiful smile and maintain the thickness of your wallet. For more information concerning mouth guards, call the Spangdahlem dental clinic at 452-8193.