Dubuque Youth Hockey Association

Properly sized and  constructed mouth guards can minimize, if not prevent injuries such as lacerations to the mouth, injuries to jaw joints and damage to teeth. Along with proper helmets, mouth guards are a significant defense mechanism against concussions.

There are many different types of mouth guards available from your sports stores, drugstores and your dentist. They come in a variety of colors.

Mouth guards can prevent serious injuries such as:

Lacerations around the mouth
Possible permanent injury to the jaw joints
Broken or knocked out teeth from its socket
Concussions
Neck injuries by helping to avoid situations where the lower jaw gets jammed into the upper jaw
Properly sized and constructed mouth guards can minimize, if not prevent injuries such as lacerations to the mouth, injuries to jaw joints and damage to teeth. Along with proper helmets, mouth guards are a significant defense mechanism against concussions. Mouth guards can reduce the chance of a concussion as a result of an impact to the mandible (which forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place) from the front or from underneath because full posterior translation of the condyles is prevented. This reduces the level of force that is caused from the condyles to the base of the skull.

Fitting:

It is recommended to have a custom made sports guard by your dentist because it fits better than the generic ones available in stores. The better the fit, the better the protection and the less chance that the mouth guard would be displaced/swallowed at the time of injury.

Maintenance:

Be sure to rinse in cold water before and after use.
NEVER use hot water. It could distort the shape.
Don't chew on your mouth guard - it will deform it.
Store it in its case to protect the shape.
Clean it with a non abrasive toothpaste and soft toothbrush.
Be sure to bring your mouth guard with you to a dental visit before the season begins to have it checked for proper sizing.