Mouthguards help prevent mouth-related injuries

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bernie Bernante
  • 62nd Medical Operations Squadron
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  During the 101 Critical Days of Summer, people naturally head outdoors in search of physical activity, which can greatly increase their chances of suffering a mouth-related injury. 

Whether it's an elbow to the jaw during a basketball game or a softball to the teeth, more than 200,000 injuries to the mouth and jaw occur annually, according to the Academy of General Dentistry Impact's monthly magazine. The magazine said most dental injuries from sports related activities can be easily prevented by simply wearing a mouthguard. 

According to the American Dental Association, mouthguards prevent serious injuries such as concussions, brain hemorrhages, jaw fractures, neck injuries and loss of consciousness by cushioning the traumatic impact of the lower jaw into the upper jaw. 

Consequently, failure to wear a mouthguard during a sporting event could result in severe pain and months or years of dental or medical rehabilitation. 

In addition, mouthguards provide an added benefit by moving lips and cheeks away from the teeth, thus reducing the risk of cuts and bruising, according to the ADA. 

If Airmen are interested in speaking with a dentist about mouthguards, they should call the McChord Dental Clinic at 982-5505 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.