Play Hard, Play Smart

Fall sports have kicked off, from grade-school to collegiate and professional sports, and athletes are ready to get physical. If you are taking the field this fall we want you, your teeth and your appliance to be safe. How can you protect your mouth? By wearing a mouth guard.

What is a mouth guard? (source: mouthhealthy.org)
Mouth guards, also called mouth protectors, help cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to your lips, tongue, face or jaw.

How mouth guards work?
They typically cover the upper teeth and are a great way to protect the soft tissues of your tongue, lips and cheek lining. Knowing how to prevent injuries like these is especially important if you participate
in organized sports or other recreational activities.

Why should athletes wear mouth guards?

• A study reported by the American Academy of General Dentistry (AAGD) found that mouth guards prevent more than 200,000 injuries to the mouth and/or teeth each year.
• Sports-related injuries often end-up in the emergency room; however, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that more than 600,000 of these visits involve injury or damage to the teeth and mouth.
• It used to be that only males were considered when it came to needing mouth guards. However, recent studies have revealed that the growing interest and participation of females in these same sports and activities makes it just as important for them to protect their teeth.

If you are one of our athlete patients please contact us to find out what type of mouth guard might be right for you and your appliance. If you have any questions about protecting your teeth give us a call and schedule an appointment, for more information about mouth guards visit www.mouthhealthy.org 

Bailey Orthodontics

14997 W. Bell Rd., Suite 150 

Surprise, AZ 85374 

Phone: 623-977-0707