Mouth guards protect teeth, prevent dental injuries Published Oct. 14, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Kristin Hays 66th Medical Operations Squadron HANSCOM AFB, Mass. -- Brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist for check-ups are important parts of proper dental care. Using a mouth guard to protect teeth from injury while playing sports is equally important for dental health. Most people wear some form of protective equipment when playing sports, such as safety glasses, elbow pads, shin guards and helmets. However, individuals often take their teeth for granted and forget they are also susceptible to dental injuries. According to the American Dental Association, more than 5 million teeth are knocked out each year -- many during sports activities. In addition, approximately 450,000 emergency room visits each year are due to sports-related injuries to the mouth and face. These injuries include concussions; lacerations to the lips, cheeks, tongue and gums; fractures of the teeth; fracture of the bone directly supporting the teeth; displaced teeth; complete loss of teeth; complete jaw fracture and temporomandibular joint problems (TMJ). More than $500 million are spent each year on replacing lost teeth due to trauma from sports. A mouth guard is an important factor in the prevention of all these injuries. The American Dental Association estimates that mouth guards prevent approximately 200,000 dental injuries each year in high school and collegiate football alone. However, most injuries occur at the middle school and junior high levels as well as with "weekend warriors" and amateur athletes. Some organized sports, such as football and boxing, require players to wear mouth guards. The American Dental Association recommends wearing a mouth guard while participating in all of the following activities: acrobatics, boxing, discus throwing, field hockey, gymnastics, handball, ice hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, rugby, shot putting, skate boarding, skiing, skydiving soccer, squash, surfing, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting and wrestling. There are three types of mouth guards available: · Stock mouth guards are pre-formed and inexpensive, but often do not fit well and interfere with breathing and speaking. · Boil and bite mouth guards can be boiled, then molded to teeth. However, individuals must follow the directions carefully or they risk a poor fit. · Custom fit mouth guards are made by a dentist for optimal fit and protection. They do, however, require multiple trips to the dentist for fittings. Custom-fit mouth guards are available to all active-duty servicemembers and are a covered benefit for family members enrolled in the Tricare Dental Program. For more information call (781) 377-3396.