Playing sports is often about winning or losing. But losing should not include your teeth. Just as helmets, shoulder pads, and kneepads are worn to protect against sports-related injuries, mouthguards, also called mouth protectors, are an equally important piece of protective gear.

Did you know?

• The cost to repair a knocked out tooth and follow-up dental treatment can cost thousands of dollars—many times greater than the price of a mouthguard.

• More than five million teeth are knocked out each year through sports injury, accident, or play.

• Athletes are 60 times more likely to suffer damage to the mouth when not wearing a mouthguard.

• Mouthguard use prevents approximately 200,000 oral-facial injuries each year.

In Massachusetts, mouthguards are required in football, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, wrestling, and most recently, basketball.

Four types of mouthguards are available:

• The custom-made pressure-laminated mouthguard:

By far the best mouthguard in terms of its fit, comfort, and protection. It is made by a dental lab from a dentist’s impression of the child’s teeth. By pressure laminating the mouthguard during its fabrication, the final product is well adapted to an athlete’s teeth.

• The custom-made vacuum mouthguard:

Also made from an impression. It is manufactured on a vacuum machine using a layer of resilient material, and offers good comfort and protection.

• The boil and bite mouthguard:

Thermoplastic mouth-formed protector, usually softened by immersing it in hot water. It is then shaped to the teeth by using finger, tongue, and biting pressure. Some who wear this type of mouthguard, however, complain of the fit, difficulty in breathing, and inability to talk.

• The stock mouthguard:

The ready-made or stock mouthguard is found at most sporting good stores. It comes in several shapes and is constructed of rubber or polyvinyl material.

However, because little can be done to adjust its fit, it is often uncomfortable and can interfere with breathing and speaking.

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