Mouth Guards: Important Protective Gear for Young Athletes

Are you ready for the Spring sports season? How about your young athletes?

Each year more than two million teeth get knocked out in sport-related injuries, and countless braces and teeth are damaged or broken. Although dental injuries are one of the most avoidable sports injuries, a study by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) found that 67% of parents said their children don’t wear a mouth guard during organized sports. One study showed that athletes are 60 times more likely to sustain damage to the teeth when not wearing a protective mouth guard. Research shows a correlation between use of mouth guards can also prevent some concussions.

Dr. Andrew Chase of ARCH Orthodontics (www.archorthodontics.com) says, “A good mouth guard can be the difference between an injury and an almost-injury. Whether a young athlete has braces or not, we always recommend mouth guards as the least expensive piece of protective gear, especially in contact sports.” Mouth guards are extremely effective in protecting braces, for preventing oral injuries, and protecting against chipped teeth and damage to lips, cheeks, tongue or jaw.” Mouth guards can provide a lifetime of savings since restoration of just one tooth can cost thousands. “Protecting braces is important so there’s no interruption in treatment if braces need to be repaired or replaced due to breakage,” Dr. Chase says. There are three basic types of mouth guards:

• Customized – made at ARCH Orthodontics from a mold of the teeth – gives a secure, tight fit.
• Ready-to-wear – available at sporting goods stores; not as comfortable as customized.
• ‘Boil and bite’ – available at sporting goods store – boil in water, then athlete bites to make it customized. May not be advisable for use with braces.

Young athletes with braces should ask their Orthodontist which mouth guards to wear during treatment. Dr. Chase advises wearing a mouth guard during all practices, games and recreational activities in general. “Even if it’s not a true contact sport, we prefer that you’re safe rather than sorry,” says Dr. Chase. “A good mouth guard should fit well, should be tough enough to withstand tears, should be comfortable and allow the wearer to breathe normally.” ARCH creates custom mouth guards for patients of all ages.

“We want you to have fun and play hard -- without harming your gorgeous smile,” says Dr. Chase.

From now through March 31st, any patient who refers a new patient to ARCH is automatically entered into a drawing to win their choice of either ‘A Day of Racing’ at F1 in Braintree, or ‘A Day of Beauty’ at Makeovers Salon + Spa in Easton. To schedule a free consultation (a $500 value) at any of ARCH’s 9 offices, call 1-800-28- SMILE, email smilemaker@archorthodontics.com , or visit www.archorthodontics.com . No-interest financing is available. ARCH is the Official Orthodontist of Miss Massachusetts. By Stanley Hurwitz / 508-269-0570 / stanhurwitz@gmail.com