5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Overlook Mouthguards When Buying Equipment

When it comes to buying athletic equipment for your team, you need to make the most of your budget, and team gear may be expensive. That’s particularly true when you need to purchase one of everything for each player.

But just because helmets and jerseys are more visible than protective equipment like thigh pads and shin guards, doesn’t mean you should overlook those important pieces of gear that help keep your players safe. And that is especially true for mouthguards.

Here are five reasons why you shouldn’t overlook the importance of mouthguards when buying equipment for your team:

1. Tooth Injuries Last Forever…

Broken arms and legs heal. ACLs are repairable. A broken tooth lasts forever.

If your players sustain an oral injury, specifically a broken or damaged tooth, they’re signed up for a lifetime supply of dental visits. That’s because the maintenance to keep a replaced tooth healthy never ends and a broken tooth does not heal itself like a broken bone does. 

2. …And Cost An Arm And A Leg

With a lifetime need for maintenance, appointments and surgeries, the lifetime cost to replace just one tooth is approximately $20,000.

And unlike a scar on the leg or arm, your players’ faces are always visible and their smile leaves a lasting impression.

While the Bobby Clarke look was once fashionable and respected, no one wants to go through life with empty gaps where their teeth should be or Chicklet-sized replacements.  

3. A Painful Mess In The Mouth

Have you had your wisdom teeth removed? Then you probably know that the face and mouth are easily two of the most sensitive areas of the body.  

Oral impact may have severely painful effects. If a player is struck in the face or mouth without the proper protection, pain is obviously the first — yet not the worse — result.

Aside from being sensitive, the face and mouth are also two areas of the body that bleed the most when lacerated. That’s because there’s an increased amount of blood vessels closer to the skin’s surface. Without the right protection, your players may need more than a few tissues if they’re struck in the mouth. 

4. The Odds For Orofacial Injuries Are High

Approximately 5 million teeth are knocked out annually during sports and recreational activities. So while it may be good to be a dentist, it’s not great to be an athlete’s mouth.

Your players have a 33-56% chance of receiving an orofacial injury — an injury to the mouth or face — during their playing career. And that means it’s highly important that they have the proper protection.

5. The Right Mouthguard Protects … And Enhances

It’s not just a clever name: mouthguards guard mouths. But are your players properly protected?

Proper protection starts with a minimum of 4 mm of material in the important impact zones — the areas in the front of the teeth and under the molars — and means there isn’t bulky material where protection isn’t needed. In order for mouthguards to be effective, and comfortable, they need to be fit to each athlete’s individual mouth structure. After all, much like fingerprints, everyone’s mouth is different and unique.

When your players’ mouthguards fit intimately against their upper teeth, they’re getting optimal airflow which gives them the ability to breathe, drink and communicate clearly — meaning athletic performance is actually enhanced by a proper mouthguard.

Save your players from a lifetime of pain and bills. When buying athletic equipment for your team, don’t overlook the importance of proper facial protection.

Don’t Overlook Mouthguards

Author Bio

Bobbie Quinn, co-founder of Gladiator Custom Mouthguards, played both lacrosse and field hockey as a youth and went on to play Division 1 women’s lacrosse in college. Bobbie continues to play women’s league field hockey and enjoys watching her son play various sports.