Luckily the use of a mouthguard can prevent the majority of dental and facial injuries caused by playing basketball.
A mouthguard is a dental appliance that is made out of high-grade dental plastic, it acts like a cushion in your mouth that protects your teeth, mouth and jaw against impact.
Let’s take a closer look at why it is important to wear a mouthguard when playing basketball.
Mouthguards protect both your teeth and your jawbone
Flexibility within our mouths are limited, a small accidental blow to the face can cause severe damage to not only your teeth but also to your jawbone.
The cushioning from a basketball mouthguard acts as a crash helmet that protects your jawbone against unexpected blows.
An injury to your jawbone is painful and very uncomfortable, this can all be avoided by wearing a well fitted mouthguard.
Mouthguards reduce the risk of dental injuries
As mentioned earlier basketball yields the highest number of dental injuries amongst all sports.
Statistics show that there are 7 dental injuries sustained for every 16 basketball players. The odds are definitely not in your favor, but with the help of a well fitted mouthguard you will be able to prevent majority of dental injuries. Mouthguards are particularly important for kids that play basketball, dental injuries can cause serious long term dental problems.
Mouthguards are a lot more affordable than dental care
Dental procedures are known to be very expensive, especially if an injury requires repeat visits. The cost of a injury prevention tool like a mouthguard is way less in comparison.
Spending $50 dollars on a mouthguard is a lot cheaper and less painful than a trip to the dentist.
Mouthguards safeguard the soft tissue of the buccal cavity
The mouth is one of the most sensitive parts of the human body, it is composed out of mostly soft tissue and fine nerve endings that rupture very easily due to traumatic blows.
Mouthguards act as a protective barrier between teeth, the tongue, your cheeks and gums. A blow to the mouth can result in a cut in your mouth as well as excessive bleeding, basketball players that wear braces are even more prone to such injuries. A good mouthguard will protect your mouth against such injuries, and it will also protect orthodontic appliances such as braces from sustaining any damage.
Mouthguards aren’t just something that the pros wear, it is a dental application that should be worn by all basketball players regardless of skill level. Accidents and injuries happen in the blink of an eye with any contact sports, invest in a good mouthguard to prevent painful and expensive trips to the dentist. And don’t worry, a well fitted mouthguard won’t hinder communication, calling your favorite play won’t be an issue.