Nationwide Survey Results: The Data You Need Direct From The Professionals

The results are in!

In a new nationwide survey, athletic trainers are asked to take an in-depth look at mouthguards. These are the professionals that look after and care for your athletes. This survey sought to breakdown the biggest issues, asking important questions such as, “Do their players always wear their mouthguards?” If not, what obstacles are stopping them? “Is there a preference for mouthguard choice?”

Lets see what the survey says:

What percentage of your athletes actually wear their mouthguards?

According to the results, the majority of athletes fall into the 40-60% range of mouthguard usage.

This is a cause for concern given the importance mouthguards play in athlete protection. Athletes have a 33-56% chance of receiving an orofacial injury — an injury to the mouth or face — during their playing career.

Which leads to the next question…

Why are your athletes not wearing their mouthguards?

There seems to be a strong consensus among athletes — via athletic trainers — that mouthguards are uncomfortable and make it difficult to speak and breathe.

Not all mouthguards types are created equally, so taking a closer look, it’s important to know what kind of mouthguards these athletes are primarily using.

What type of mouthguards do you offer your athletes?

It’s no surprise that the overwhelming majority of athletic trainers who were surveyed offer their athletes boil-and-bite mouthguards. These are the simplest and cheapest option available.

Boil-and-bite guards are designed for one-size-fits-all, but every person’s mouth is unique to them. A one-size-fits-all mouthguard is not likely to produce positive feelings, leaving athletes unwilling to wear their mouthguard.

93%

When asked what their preferred mouthguard choice would be for their athletes, 93% of all athletics trainers agreed that custom mouthguards are the preferred option.

Which begs the question…

If custom mouthguards are your preferred choice, and you know they are the better option, why aren’t you providing them to your players?

While some athletic trainers stress budgetary issues, a majority of respondents are concerned that athletes still wouldn’t wear their mouthguards, even if they were provided with a custom mouthguard.

To determine if this is true, data from athletes is needed.

Based on a survey of athletes with a Gladiator custom mouthguard for the first time:

96%

The percent of athletes who reported an increased usage of wearing their Gladiator custom mouthguard in both practices and games.

89%

The percent of athletes who reported wearing their Gladiator custom mouthguard for 100% of their practices and games.

This is a significant increase in the compliance and usage of mouthguards verses the previously reported percentage by athletic trainers.

Why do athletes report an increase in usage when they switch to Gladiator?

Nearly half of athletes report the #1 reason they specifically wear their Gladiator more is due to the fact that it makes it easier to breathe and speak. Increased comfort over other mouthguard options they have tried ranks just behind this as a #1 reason for increased usage.

The numbers don’t lie: Only Gladiator custom mouthguards provide the comfort, breathability and ability to communicate clearly that your athletes want.

Get your athletes to actually wear their mouthguards. Only a Gladiator custom mouthguard provides the breathability and comfort to give athletes the mouthguard they want to wear. Learn more at the link below.

Trust The Data, Trust Gladiator

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.