Save Face and Money by Wearing a Mouthguard

Save Face and Money by Wearing a Mouthguard, Say Dentists

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) is again calling on parents, schools and sporting clubs to make the wearing of custom-fitted mouthguards compulsory for anyone participating in sports where contact to the head and face may occur.

In Victoria alone, at least 2,000 dental injuries were treated in emergency departments between 2000 and 2002, with people under 25 at most risk .

An elbow to the face, collision or a hard fall can knock out a tooth, leave you with a chipped or broken tooth, concussion or, in serious cases, a broken jaw. Wearing a mouthguard while training and playing sport can prevent or reduce the severity of many of these injuries. A custom-fitted mouthguard helps cushion a blow to the face that otherwise might result in an injury to the mouth or jaw.

A report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that Australian children between 5 and 14 years who reported being injured were most commonly participating in sport or games at the time of injury .

President of the ADA, Dr Neil Hewson, says that the cost of treatment and repair to a damaged tooth can be significant.

"Dependent on the nature of the injury, treatment can be of thousands of dollars. This is a cost many families simply cannot afford," says Dr Hewson.

The US National Youth Sports Foundation for the Prevention of Athletic Injury Inc., calculates that a tooth knocked out during sport has the potential for lifetime costs of up to $15,000 per tooth.

"Compare that to the cost of a custom-fitted mouthguard, and the protection against injury is a worthy investment," Dr Hewson adds.

The ADA recommends wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard while training and playing sports where contact is part of the game, like football and rugby, and also collision sports where contact often happens but is not expected. These include basketball, hockey, netball, baseball, soccer, BMX bike riding and skateboarding among others.

"The ADA strongly recommends that everyone wear the proper protection while playing sport. We encourage all parents, schools and clubs to make mouthguards mandatory for anyone participating in a sport where the mouth or face can be injured," says Dr Hewson.

For more information and fact sheets on mouthguards and protecting teeth, visit: www.mouthguardawareness.info

What to do if a tooth is knocked out

Wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard while participating in contact sports will help protect against painful and potentially expensive dental injuries.

However, if an accident does occur and a tooth is knocked out, this fact sheet outlines what to do to improve the outcome and prepare the tooth for dental treatment.

If a tooth is knocked out, remain calm and act quickly. The following steps should be taken immediately:

· Locate the tooth and, handling it gently by the crown, ensure it is clean. The crown is the smooth white part of the tooth that is normally visible in the mouth.

· If the root of the tooth is dirty, and the patient is calm and conscious, ask them to gently suck the tooth clean. Alternatively, rinse the entire tooth in milk or very briefly, in water.

· Immediately place the tooth back in the socket making sure it is facing the right way. Immediate replacement is essential and should ideally occur within 5-10 minutes of the tooth being knocked out.

· Hold the tooth in place by biting gently into a soft cloth or by using aluminium foil placed over the tooth and the teeth on either side to stabilise the tooth.

· If you are unable to replant the tooth back in the socket, keep it moist by putting it in a cup of milk, sealing it in plastic wrap or placing it in the conscious patient's mouth next to the cheek.

· Immediately Seek Dental Treatment - Time is Critical to prevent permanent damage


Extreme care should be taken with a tooth that has been knocked out. Avoid the following:

· Do not handle the root of the tooth

· Do not scrape or rub the surface of the tooth

· Do not let the tooth dry out, keep it moist at all times

· Do not put the tooth in ice or hot water

· Avoid rinsing or storing the tooth in water for more than one or two seconds

· Do not remove any soft tissue fragments from the tooth

For information on mouthguards and protecting teeth, visit www.mouthguardawareness.info

Mouthguards, mouthguards everywhere! Which type of mouthguard should I wear?

There are many types of mouthguards available in Australia, ranging from cheap, over-the-counter products to professionally custom-fitted mouthguards.

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) strongly recommends wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard from your dentist.

Over-the-counter mouthguards provide inadequate protection from serious injury. The significant cost associated with a dental injury justifies the wearing of appropriate protection to prevent injury in the first place.

Custom-fitted mouthguards
Custom-fitted mouthguards are made by a dentist by taking an impression and creating a plaster model of your teeth. Custom fitting allows the dentist to accurately assess your mouth and provide the best fitting mouthguard. The dentist will also make a mouthguard that is most appropriate for your sport.

Custom-fitted mouthguards provide a better fit than other varieties as they are made to suit your individual needs. When made by your dentist, a custom-fitted mouthguard is:

· Comfortable
· Tight-fitting
· Allows you to speak coherently
· Provides maximum resistance against being dislodged
· Won't restrict breathing

Over-the-counter (boil and bite) mouthguards
These mouthguards are significantly less effective than custom-fitted mouthguards. Over-the-counter mouthguards can include stock mouthguards that do not require fitting and mouthguards that are self-fitting using hot water and a great deal of luck.

These types of mouthguards do not fit as well and are less comfortable to wear than a custom-fitted guard. This greatly decreases their effectiveness and sometimes can increase the risk of even greater damage to teeth. The ADA and Standards Australia do not recommend over-the-counter 'boil and bite' mouthguards.

An over-the-counter mouthguard may be a short-term solution if there is absolutely no alternative available. However, even with careful attention to the directions, a poorly fitting mouthguard offers inadequate protection. Some studies place their degree of protection only slightly better than wearing no mouthguard at all.

How long will my mouthguard last?
Your mouthguard should be reviewed by a dentist every year to ensure it continues to fit correctly. You may need a replacement if new adult teeth have come through or the mouthguard has sustained a serious blow, which may have damaged it.

How do I care for my mouthguard?
After use, rinse your mouthguard in cold water and store in a plastic container away from high temperatures. Tips for caring for your mouthguard include:

· Rinse in cold water after use
· Store in a well ventilated plastic container
· Keep out of direct sunlight - mouthguards will distort in high temperatures so don't leave them in the car
· Occasionally rinse your mouthguard in a mouthwash
· Show your mouthguard to your dentist at your regular check up
· Replace if damaged

A mouthguard at play keeps the dentist away

Every year thousands of children are treated for dental injuries which could have been avoided or minimised by wearing a protective custom-fitted mouthguard. Sporting accidents are one of the most common causes of dental injury.

Players of all ages involved in sports and activities where they are at a risk of contact to the face should protect their teeth with a properly fitted mouthguard.

Why do you need a mouthguard?

A mouthguard helps absorb and spread the impact of a blow to the face that might otherwise result in an injury to the mouth or jaw. Damaged or dislodged teeth, broken jaws and cut lips can often be sustained when participating in contact sports.

Dental injuries may result in time off school or work to recover, can be painful and disfiguring, and may involve lengthy and expensive dental treatment.

The cost of an injury to the teeth or jaw far exceeds the cost of a custom-fitted mouthguard.

When should I wear a mouthguard?
Mouthguards should be worn whilst playing and training for any sport that could involve contact to the face. It is essential not only to wear a mouthguard while playing contact sports such as rugby or football, but also while playing sports where there is a chance of being hit in the jaw or head. Such sports include hockey, netball, baseball, basketball and even skateboarding and skiing.

Other mouthguard tips

· The Australian Dental Association strongly recommends investing in a custom fitting mouthguard from your dentist

· Have your mouthguard checked by your dentist every 12 months for optimal fit and protection

· Keep your mouthguard clean and store it in a rigid container, away from heat to ensure it maintains its shape

For information on mouthguards and protecting teeth, visit www.mouthguardawareness.info