
If we could go back in time, we all probably have a few things we wish we could change. Recently, Dr. Travis Stork, emergency room physician and host of the syndicated TV show The Doctors, shared one of his do-over dreams with Dear Doctor magazine: “If I [could have] gone back and told myself as a teenager what to do, I would have worn a mouthguard, not only to protect my teeth but also to help potentially reduce risk of concussion.”
What prompted this wish? The fact that as a teenage basketball player, Stork received an elbow to the mouth that caused his two front teeth to be knocked out of place. The teeth were put back in position, but they soon became darker and began to hurt. Eventually, both were successfully restored with dental crowns. Still, it was a painful (and costly) injury — and one that could have been avoided.
You might not realize it, but when it comes to dental injuries, basketball ranks among the riskier sports. Yet it’s far from the only one. In fact, according to the American Dental Association (ADA), there are some two dozen others — including baseball, hockey, surfing and bicycling — that carry a heightened risk of dental injury. Whenever you’re playing those sports, the ADA recommends you wear a high-quality mouth guard.
Mouthguards have come a long way since they were introduced as protective equipment for boxers in the early 1900’s. Today, three different types are widely available: stock “off-the-shelf” types that come in just a few sizes; mouth-formed “boil-and-bite” types that you adapt to the general contours of your mouth; and custom-made high-quality mouthguards that are made just for you at the dental office.
Of all three types, the dentist-made mouthguards are consistently found to be the most comfortable and best-fitting, and the ones that offer your teeth the greatest protection. What’s more, recent studies suggest that custom-fabricated mouthguards can provide an additional defense against concussion — in fact, they are twice as effective as the other types. That’s why you’ll see more and more professional athletes (and plenty of amateurs as well) sporting custom-made mouthguards at games and practices.
“I would have saved myself a lot of dental heartache if I had worn a mouthguard,” noted Dr. Stork. So take his advice: Wear a mouthguard whenever you play sports — unless you’d like to meet him (or one of his medical colleagues) in a professional capacity…
If you would like more information about mouthguards, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can read more in the Dear Doctor magazine article “Athletic Mouthguards.”
Comments:
Find Us
American Dental Professionals
2675 N Mayfair Rd, # 650
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
(414) 257 - 1230
Request Appointment
Our office has flexible hours to fit your busy schedule
Patient Eductation

Archive:
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
Tags
- Welcome (1)
- oral health (24)
- celebrity smiles (79)
- oral hygiene (23)
- blood pressure medication (1)
- cosmetic dentistry (13)
- orthodontics (10)
- tads (1)
- crown (1)
- dental injuries (1)
- dental implants (8)
- periodontal plastic surgery (1)
- bonding (2)
- clear aligners (2)
- braces (9)
- dental injury (9)
- mouthguards (5)
- bad breath (3)
- gum surgery (1)
- dental hygiene (1)
- financing (1)
- root canal (1)
- geographic tongue (2)
- bridge (1)
- orthodontic treatment (18)
- adult orthodontics (1)
- osteoporosis (1)
- oral surgery (4)
- headgear (1)
- wisdom teeth (4)
- cosmetic gum surgery (1)
- dental exam (1)
- nutrition (4)
- diabetes (3)
- periodontal (gum) disease (2)
- air abrasion (1)
- pregnancy (3)
- cleft lip (2)
- cleft palate (2)
- sealants (1)
- tooth decay (4)
- chipped teeth (2)
- sensitive teeth (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- teeth whitening (2)
- teeth wear (1)
- gum disease (13)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- dentures (3)
- pediatric care (1)
- infection control (1)
- frenectomy (1)
- root canal treatment (4)
- crowns (5)
- thumb sucking (3)
- porcelain veneers (6)
- removable dentures (1)
- periodontal disease (2)
- dentistry (1)
- seniors (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- mouth rash (1)
- retainers (3)
- pediatric dentistry (8)
- mouth sores (1)
- teething (2)
- dental emergency (1)
- dental implant bridge (1)
- mouthguard (1)
- teeth grinding (3)
- bruxism (1)
- oral cancer (3)
- tooth pain (3)
- bone grafting (1)
- chipped tooth (5)
- retainer (2)
- dental care (2)
- gum recession (1)
- artificial sweeteners (1)
- laser dentistry (1)
- dental anxiety (1)
- x-rays (2)
- lingual braces (2)
- crown lengthening (1)
- bonded retainer (1)
- gummy smile (1)
- toothache (1)
- extraction (1)
- sedation dentistry (2)
- tooth replacement (1)
- tmj disorders (2)
- jaw pain (1)
- topical fluoride (1)
- vitamins (1)
- dental implant (4)
- vaping (2)
- smile makeover (2)
- dry mouth (1)
- missing teeth (1)
- veneers (1)