Injury Prevention
Football has helmets to protect heads. Soccer has shinguards for protecting legs. And to help reduce tongue injuries, mouthguards are the answer. Nearly all contact sports recommend wearing mouthguards for protecting your jaw, tongue, teeth, and mouth. There are three different kinds of mouthguards to choose from.
- Standard
- These are your typical one-size-fits-all product, but as we know, every mouth is different.
- Boil-and-bite
- This over-the-counter product allows you to boil the mouthguard and then bite into it to create a more unique and secure fit.
- Custom
- The most costly option is the best one, but it can only be made by your dentist.
The American Dental Association has found that mouthguards help reduce sports-related dental injuries. It's a simple solution that can be conveniently worn across multiple sports.
Wearing a mouthguard during competition and practice should eliminate nearly all risk of a tongue injury. But a high-powered oral care routine is always in the game plan. So daily flossing, brushing with soft bristles, tongue scraping/cleaning, and regular dental checkups are keys to a winning and thriving oral cavity.