You enjoy being active, whether playing basketball with your friends or participating on your company’s baseball team every summer. You’re concerned, though, that your love of recreation may negatively affect your teeth one day. You’re not the only one.

The American Dental Association reported that 15 million people in the United States, or 10% of players, experience dental injuries stemming from sports each year. 

Unfortunately, injuries stemming from sports can have a long-term effect on the health of your teeth and gums or your periodontal health. The good news is that mouthguards may help prevent this problem. Let’s explore how mouthguards might help prevent dental damage.

Impact Injury Reduction

During physical activities and sports, a mouthguard absorbs and distributes the force associated with impacts to the mouth, preventing tooth fractures, keeping your teeth from becoming knocked out, and guarding against gum tissue injuries. 

A quality mouthguard works by spreading out and cushioning a blow’s force to protect the teeth, jaw, and gums. The guard is also designed to stabilize your jaw during impacts. The stabilization can help prevent jaw injuries such as dislocations, which may have negative long-term oral health effects. The mouthguard’s design can help you maintain your dental health overall and prevent damage that may cause periodontal issues.

Preventing Head Injuries and Concussions

Mouthguards offer cushioning layers between the lower and upper jaws, decreasing the likelihood of head injuries and concussions during sports. The added protection that mouthguards deliver to your head can also help you maintain the health of your teeth and gums, preventing periodontal challenges down the road.

These guards can help prevent dental injuries like fractures and chips by cushioning your jaws and teeth. They can also help prevent injuries and cuts to your mouth’s soft tissues, such as your lips, cheeks, and gums. Healthy tissues are critical for your periodontal health overall.

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Teeth Grinding Protection

Like night guards, mouthguards may help prevent tooth damage stemming from clenching or grinding teeth, which may result in worn enamel, jaw pain, and cracked teeth. By offering a barrier, they decrease the pressure placed on gums and teeth, promoting healthy gums and minimizing periodontal issues.

Note that mouthguards are usually made of more resilient, thicker materials than night guards to absorb and withstand strong impacts. They should cover your teeth fully to provide complete protection during sports activities. Custom guards versus over-the-counter ones are ideal for maximal protection.

Improving Athletic Performance

Mouthguards may boost your athletic performance and, in turn, your periodontal health by promoting the correct jaw alignment and breathing. 

Since mouthguards help keep your airway open, you can maintain optimal levels of oxygen during intense activities and sports, increasing your endurance and stamina. The correct jaw alignment may also improve your athletic abilities by reducing stress and tension in your jaw muscles, which can help prevent distractions resulting from jaw discomfort and enable you to focus more on your performance. The more active you are and you enjoy being, the more you may experience the anti-inflammatory benefits associated with exercise, which lowers the likelihood of periodontal disease.

TMJ Disorder Support

Another major benefit of mouthguards is their ability to support those with temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, disorder. A mouthguard may help prevent grinding and decrease jaw tension, which is critical since constant jaw strain may cause your gums to begin receding, exposing your tooth roots and increasing their likelihood of developing sensitivity problems and decay. The extra stress placed on the gums and bone in someone with TMJ disorder might also contribute to periodontal disease, resulting in inflammation, bleeding, or tooth loss. 

Promoting Proper Tooth Alignment

A mouthguard may help keep your teeth from becoming misaligned or shifting due to physical impact, clenching, or grinding. Proper tooth alignment is vital for maintaining your bone structure’s and gums’ integrity, which will help prevent periodontal issues in the long term. That’s because when your teeth are properly aligned, your teeth will be easier to clean with flossing and brushing, decreasing the buildup of plaque. Correct tooth alignment helps ensure there are fewer small places where plaque and food particles may accumulate.

Protect Your Periodontal Health with Mouth guards Today

Mouth guards play an invaluable role in preserving your periodontal health when you play sports or engage in vigorous physical activities. These devices can guard your teeth against impact injuries. Teeth-grinding mouth guards can also prevent grinding that can wear down your pearly whites. Mouth guards may also help support people with TMJ disorder and ensure proper tooth alignment to prevent gum and tooth issues. Consider all the above-listed benefits of mouth guards as you seek to protect your gums and teeth while engaging in recreational or intense activities in the years ahead.