Properly Fitted Mouthguards Prevent Injuries
However, Mouthpieces May Also Cause Oral Mucosal Lesions
Oct 12, 2009
Individuals that are involved in contact sports may be at risk for dental injuries including loose teeth, chipped teeth, and/or knocked out teeth. The use of a protective mouthguard can reduce the risk of these types of injuries.
Several sports require the use of a mouthguard including football and ice hockey. Mouthguards are commonly used by athletes in other sports on an individual basis including softball, baseball, and basketball.
Mouthguards can be effective if they are fitted properly and used regularly. The key to the effectiveness of the device is that it needs to be properly fitted. Most mouthpieces used by young athletes are purchased over the counter and are fitted by the athletes themselves.
Proper Fitting of a Mouthguard
The proper procedure for fitting a mouthpiece includes:
- Heating the mouthpiece in hot water until it is pliable
- Removing the mouthpiece from the hot water and shaking off excess water
- Placing the mouthpiece in the mouth, closing the teeth, and then sucking the mouthpiece up into the top of the mouth for 20 – 25 seconds
- Placing the mouthpiece in cold water to set the mold for an additional 20-25 seconds
It is important that the athlete create suction between the mouthpiece and the top of the mouth to secure a close custom fit rather than biting down on the mouthpiece.
Athletes also need to ensure that the mouthguard is not cut down from the original size. A mouthguard that has been shortened will not effectively protect the molars of the athlete.
Mouthguards that are used without proper fitting or that are shared with other athletes are also not effective. Mouthpieces that are old and worn should be replaced.
Oral Lesions and Mouthguards
A recent study published in Sports Health (September/October, 2009) specifically looked at the incidence of oral lesions in athletes created by the use of protective athletic mouthpieces (PAM). The subjects for the study included 62 football players from a Division I collegiate football program.
The subjects underwent a thorough clinical oral examination at the beginning and end of the season with half of the subjects undergoing an additional examination halfway through the season. It is interesting to note that their results found significant increases in oral soft tissue lesions from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.
The results of the study include the following:
- 96% of the football players had some type of oral lesions
- All mouth sites with the exception of the palate (gingiva, buccal mucosa, tongue) had significant increases in oral lesions
- There was no difference between the right and left sides of the mouth
- The gingiva had the highest number of lesions
Need to Disinfect Mouthguards Daily
Another important piece of information coming out of this study was that the mouthguards of all of the subjects were cultured and the results yielded the following:
- 339 Bacterial Isolates
- 20 Yeast Isolates
- 108 Fungal/Mold Isolates
This would indicate that the mouthpieces were not disinfected as often as they should have been and that they were a “microbial reservoir” (Glass, R.T., et.al., 2009). Because of these results, the authors have the following recommendations for athletes:
- Replace the mouthguard whenever an athlete develops an oral lesion or respiratory infection
- Sanitize the mouthguard daily using a commercially available antimicrobial denture-cleansing solution
- Replace the mouthguard when it becomes sharp or jagged
When properly fitted and maintained, protective mouthguards can be an effective tool to prevent oral injuries. However, if they are not fitted or maintained properly, the athlete can suffer oral injuries and/or lesions.
 |
