Although the splendid 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is over, the outstanding demeanor of the athletes is still deeply imprinted in everyone’s mind.

I wonder if everyone is watching the game and cheering for athletes from all over the world, but at the same time, whether there are attentive people who find that many ice and snow athletes have a “secret weapon” in their mouths, all armed to the teeth.

In fact, this is the sports mouthguard (Mouthguard), also called sports jaw pad, originated in Europe and the United States, has a history of more than 70 years.

What is the important role of it so that athletes can’t live without it? Why is it recommended by the International Society of Sports Dentistry (ISAD) and the American Dental Association (ADA)?

1. What is a sports mouthguard?

A sports mouthguard is an elastic shock absorbing device that covers and wraps around the teeth, gums and alveolar bone, isolating the upper and lower teeth, teeth and cheek tissues , a protective device with the function of power transmission and redistribution.

In simple terms, a sports mouthguard is a “protective device” similar to a helmet, wrist guard, knee pad, and sports shoes to be worn during exercise, except that it is a Used to protect our teeth and face.

2. What are the important functions of sports mouthguards?

In ideal conditions, when external forces are applied to the cheeks and lower face, mouth guards absorb and redistribute forces.

In sports, custom mouthguards can effectively prevent facial and lip injuries caused by bumps and bumps, including:

1. Effectively prevent the occurrence of trauma such as tooth fracture, loss and displacement.

2. Protect oral soft tissues, such as lips, tongue, cheeks, etc. from damage.

3. Prevent jaw fractures and even concussions.

3. What types of sports mouthguards are there?

The first type of ordinary mouthguard

Features: Available in ordinary stores, cheap, pre-formed , roughly divided into large, medium and small. Poor fit and comfort.

The second type of heated bite mouthguard

Features: Available in sporting goods stores, also pre-formed, Just put it in hot water to heat it up and bite into shape.

The third type of customized mouthguard

Features: It needs to be customized in a regular dental medical institution, and it needs to be customized by a stomatologist. Tailored to specific needs such as age, dental development, type and intensity of exercise.

According to age, it can be divided into adolescent type and adult type. According to exercise intensity, it can be divided into ordinary elasticity and multi-layer different elasticity, which is more protective.

It has the advantages of accurate retention, stable wearing, comfortable and durable, and the best protection effect. However, the production is complicated and requires printing, customization by technicians and regular follow-up visits.

4. Precautions for wearing sports mouthguards

1. Use clean water before use Wet to enhance adsorption.

2. Clean with water after use, brush with a toothbrush if necessary, and place it in a special box. Do not use corrosive detergents, hot water, alcohol, sunlight, etc. to clean and disinfect.

3. Regular check-ups, especially for adolescents with mixed teeth, should beSee the dentist regularly for the growth and development of the teeth, and replace the unsuitable mouthguards in time, preferably 3-6 months.

4. Replace the mouthguard when it is severely worn or the material becomes hard.

—Recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) and the International Society of Sports Dentistry (ISAD)—

Athletes must use protective mouthguards when engaging in vigorous physical activity (eg, football, soccer, ice hockey, hockey, basketball, roller, skateboarding, gymnastics, cycling, skating, etc.).

Protective braces must also be worn when participating in combat sports (such as boxing, karate, sanda, etc.) and should be worn at all times during training and competition.

—Dentist Reminder—

The common clinical users in China are mainly engaged in basketball, ice hockey, boxing, fighting, squash, and those who like strength training tend to clench their teeth during exercise, which is easy to cause Tooth wear and cracking, it is also recommended to consider wearing.

Safety comes first, protect yourself from sports injuries, and enjoy the joy of sports more.

[Unauthorized reprinting of original content is strictly prohibited]