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Sports Mouthguards
While football is the only sport requiring the use of a mouthguard in the state of North Carolina, it is strongly recommended that children and adults use mouthguards for any sport that is considered contact, collision, or extreme.
Contact Sports include soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, softball, etc.
Collision Sports include football, rugby, and hockey.
Extreme Sports refers to mountain biking, motocross biking, skateboarding, inline skating, dirt bike riding, four-wheeling, and mountain climbing.
It is estimated by the American Dental Association that more than 60% of all sports-related injuries could be prevented by the use of a mouthguard. There has also been a great deal of evidence in recent years supporting the claim that well-fitted mouthguards can help prevent or lessen the extent of concussions.
There are different types of mouthguards available, in different price ranges:
- Boil and Bite Mouthguards can be purchased at pharmacies and sporting good stores. They are very inexpensive (usually around $25) but tend to be bulky and uncomfortable. The poor fit offers less protection and often makes it more difficult to breathe and impossible to speak. It is still far better than going without protection.
- “One Size Fits All Mouthguards” can be found at sporting good stores and supermarkets. They are inexpensive also (anywhere from $5 to $25), but are ill-fitted and very bulky. They offer the least amount of protection and are prone to falling out.
- Custom Mouthguards are made at your dental office. An impression of the mouth is taken and sent off to a professional lab to for mouthguard that is custom-made to fit your mouth to be fabricated. They are much smaller, less likely to fall out, and make it easier to breathe and speak. They are more expensive, but well worth the investment when you examine the benefits of prevention versus treatment of severe injuries. Mouthguards can cost up to $400 but treatment of dental trauma and injury can run up into the thousands – and some damage can be irreversible. Kids like custom mouthguards because you can choose your colors!
OUR MOUTHGUARDS ARE CURRENTLY 50% OFF!!!
Call us to set up an appointment and take advantage of this special offer!
Read More About Oral Health for Children Ages 5 to 10:
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