If you participate in organized sports or athletic activities, dentists recommend wearing a mouthguard for both practices and competition. Many games like football and hockey require players to wear a mouthguard as part of the standard safety equipment. But even for those activities where it's not mandatory, like gymnastics, it's smart to wear one. There are plenty of ways athletics can threaten your teeth, but luckily, mouthguards live up to their name and can protect you from a range of dental mishaps.

Why Do Dentists Recommend Mouthguards for Sports?

1. Protect From Tooth Damage

During sports, there's a high risk of hitting your teeth—an object like a ball or a body part like an elbow can be hard to predict. Even when your mouth is closed, hitting your jaw could make your teeth snap together, or a fall can result in your face hitting the ground. Mouthguards are designed to surround your teeth and cushion them, making them less likely to break or displace in any of these scenarios. Wearing a mouthguard also decreases your odds of knocking a tooth out completely, a problem that requires intensive restorative dentistry to fix.

2. Prevent Tongue Bites

If your tongue is between your teeth when they're suddenly forced together, you can give yourself a severe bite that will take a long time to heal. A mouthguard occupies that space so your tongue won’t even be in that dangerous area in the first place. This way, if you're tripped or hit without any warning, your tongue is safe.

3. Minimize Jaw Injuries

When your teeth are forced together, there's not usually not much give. So when an object or person hits your jaw, you want something between your teeth to help cushion the impact. Without a mouthguard to absorb the force of the hit, your jawbone can take the brunt of the damage.

The most effective and comfortable mouthguards are custom-fitted by a dentist. If you need one, visit Dr. Richard A. Brunmeier, DDS, P.C. in Lincoln, NE. Serving Lancaster County for almost three decades, they are a full-service dental office offering everything from teeth cleaning to dental implants using advanced modern techniques and equipment. Call (402) 484-6644 to make an appointment, or visit their Facebook page to learn more about their practice.