Req 2b — Tooth Trauma & Mouth Guards

A cavity takes months or years to form. A broken tooth takes a fraction of a second. Traumatic dental injuries are sudden, painful, and often preventable — if you know the risks and take one simple precaution.

Causes of Traumatic Tooth Loss

Traumatic tooth loss happens when a strong impact knocks a tooth partially or completely out of its socket. The most common causes include:

• Sports injuries — The single biggest cause of dental trauma in young people. Contact sports like football, hockey, basketball, and lacrosse are high-risk, but even non-contact activities like skateboarding, cycling, and gymnastics cause dental injuries.
• Falls — Slipping on wet surfaces, tripping on stairs, or falling from playground equipment. Falls are the leading cause of dental injuries in children under six.
• Collisions — Running into another player, a goalpost, the ground, or a piece of equipment.
• Bicycle and vehicle accidents — A crash can drive a handlebar or dashboard into the face.
• Physical altercations — A blow to the face during a fight.
• Accidents during recreation — Being hit by a ball, puck, bat, elbow, or stick.

Types of Mouth Guards

A mouth guard is a flexible protective device worn over the upper teeth to absorb and distribute impact forces. There are three main types:

1. Stock (Ready-Made) Mouth Guards

These come pre-formed and ready to wear right out of the package. They are the least expensive option and can be found at most sporting goods stores.

• Pros: Inexpensive, no preparation needed
• Cons: Poor fit — they are bulky, can make breathing and speaking difficult, and provide the least protection because they cannot be customized
• Best for: Occasional use or when budget is a major constraint

2. Boil-and-Bite Mouth Guards

These are made from thermoplastic material. You soften them in hot water, then bite down to mold them to your teeth. They offer a much better fit than stock guards.

• Pros: Better fit and comfort than stock, affordable, widely available
• Cons: Not as precise as custom-made, can thin out during the molding process
• Best for: Most youth and recreational athletes — the best balance of protection, comfort, and cost

3. Custom-Made Mouth Guards

A dentist takes an impression of your teeth and a dental laboratory creates a guard tailored exactly to your mouth. These provide the best fit, comfort, and protection.

• Pros: Superior fit, most comfortable, best protection, does not interfere with breathing or speech
• Cons: Most expensive, requires a dental visit
• Best for: Athletes in high-contact sports, anyone with braces or dental work, and competitive athletes

When to Wear a Mouth Guard

The ADA and the Academy for Sports Dentistry recommend mouth guards for all sports and recreational activities with a risk of contact to the face. Here is a list organized by risk level:

Required or Strongly Recommended

These sports have the highest rates of dental injury:

• Football
• Ice hockey
• Field hockey
• Lacrosse
• Boxing and martial arts
• Wrestling
• Rugby

Highly Recommended

Significant risk of falls, collisions, or ball impacts:

• Basketball
• Soccer
• Baseball and softball
• Skateboarding and rollerblading
• Mountain biking
• Gymnastics
• Volleyball
• Water polo

Recommended for High-Risk Situations

Lower overall risk, but injuries do occur:

• Cycling (especially BMX or trail riding)
• Skiing and snowboarding
• Surfing
• Rock climbing
• Equestrian activities
• Racquetball and squash