A mouthguard is a protective device useful for preventing injuries during contact sports
It is a protective device worn over the teeth to prevent injury to the teeth, gums, jawbone and lips. Most often, it is worn over the upper teeth only; however, in special instances determined by your dentist, it may be required for the lower teeth as well. It can be worn by both children and adults.
It is useful for preventing injuries during contact sports such as football, hockey, rugby, basketball, biking, karate, judo etc. It is estimated that more than 5 million teeth are lost in the United States of American annually, and more than 200,000 injuries are prevented by the use of mouthguards. The most common injuries that can be prevented include teeth chipping, nerve damage and even tooth loss!
Generally, a mouthguard is comfortable to wear, durable and easy to clean. It will not restrict breathing or speech.
We would like to acknowledge the following for their help in the contribution of the photo in the article:
PLAYSAFE and ORTHODONTIC MASTER, SINGAPORE
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This article was last reviewed on 21 Dec 2021
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