# Tooth Trauma & Mouth Guards Part of the Dentistry Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/dentistry/guide/index.md) *2. Dental Disease & Prevention* > **2b.** Tell the possible causes for traumatic tooth loss, describe the types of mouth guards used to help prevent tooth trauma, and list the athletic activities during which a person should wear a mouth guard. 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. > **Did You Know?** > > The American Dental Association estimates that mouth guards prevent approximately 200,000 oral injuries in high school and college football alone each year. Athletes who do not wear mouth guards are 60 times more likely to suffer dental injuries. ## 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 > **Tip** > > If you wear braces, ask your orthodontist about a mouth guard designed for braces. Standard boil-and-bite guards can damage brackets and wires. Your orthodontist may recommend a custom guard that fits over your braces and protects both your teeth and your hardware. ![Three mouth guards displayed side by side: a generic stock guard, a boil-and-bite guard, and a custom-fitted guard, each labeled](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/dentistry/guide/three-mouth-guard-types?v=4d9e229e) ## 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 > **Safety First!** > > A mouth guard only works if you actually wear it. Keep it in your gear bag so it is always available, replace it each season or when it shows signs of wear, and rinse it with cold water after each use. A mouth guard that sits in your locker does nothing to protect your teeth. ![A teenager in a clean Scout uniform putting on a mouth guard before a flag football game, with other Scouts visible in the background on a grassy field](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/dentistry/guide/scout-sports-mouth-guard?v=1a114ebf) [ADA — Mouth Guards](https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/m/mouthguards): The American Dental Association's guide to choosing and caring for mouth guards. --- - Previous: [Causes of Decay & Gum Disease](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/dentistry/guide/req2a/index.md) - Next: [Saving a Knocked-Out Tooth](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/dentistry/guide/req2c/index.md)