There is nothing more important to us than protecting our athletes from injuries while they play hard. Mouthguards are an essential for many sports and are recommended for some sports that don’t require them as well. Whether you’re wearing braces in NJ sports or you’re just looking out for the protection of your precious teeth, a mouthguard is the best way to safeguard against many potential injuries and issues playing sports.

In this guide, we talk about some of the most common sports that require guards, share some not so commonly known sports that recommend guards, and share why they are so critical. Read more below!

Why Are Mouthguards Important?

A mouth retainer is not just another piece of annoying equipment to wear. It’s an essential protective device that most pediatric orthodontists recommend for a wide variety of sports. These guards are recommended for contact sports for everyone. However, it is also recommended that youth with braces wear guards for additional sports to provide protection because of the braces.

A mouthguard is designed to help cushion a blow to the face, protecting the teeth from possible impact. Wearing a guard can help minimize the risk of broken teeth, soft tissue damage, and even jaw injuries. The guard helps to absorb the impact and will distribute force to minimize issues from any impact to the face.

In addition to protecting the teeth and jaw, guards have been shown to help reduce the severity of concussions in some cases because they distribute the force of the blow. This depends on the impact of the concussion, but it’s a major advantage. According to the American Dental Association, wearing mouthguards protects against 200,000+ oral injuries every year. Many high-contact sports require a retainer in mouth to play, but the ADA recommends guards for 29 different sports.

Let’s start with the most common.

7 Sports That Require Mouthguards

Below, we share the 7 most common sports where mouthguards are very often in use. Some of these sports require guards while others highly recommend them. Check these out.

1. Football

Football is one of the most high-impact sports out there and mouthguards are non-negotiable. Because of the high impact nature, they are required to be on the field and playing. Every player must have a mouth retainer in and most players receive them as part of their uniforms. Having a well-fitted option is the best type of protection.

Football requires this protection because of collisions, falls, and tackles which are all a big part of the sport. In addition to the guard, players wear helmets and various pads to help protect against injuries. Impacts are common so a guard is just part of the protection and very essential for protecting against dental injuries and fractured jaws.

Take time to get a well-fitted guard for the best protection.

2. Hockey

Hockey is another high-impact sport and that applies to field hockey as well as ice hockey. The players are rushing across the ice or the field with speed, sticks that are flying, and a puck that can easily hit someone in the mouth. Players are padded and protected for hockey very similarly to football with pads and helmets to help reduce impacts. A mouthguard is required for this sport too.

Games can be intense and hockey is well-known for fights breaking out, so the guards provide added protection in these cases as well. The guard will help prevent chipped or knocked-out teeth from the activities of the games, especially high intensity games. While some leagues do not make guards mandatory, most of them do require them.

3. Basketball

Basketball is a sport where many players do not wear mouthguards, but they probably should. There are no leagues that require the guards to play because it is not officially considered a contact sport. That being said, it’s very easy to have impacts or get injured in basketball too. Guards are highly recommended by the ADA and pediatric orthodontists recommend them specifically for children with braces too.

The most common risks in basketball are going to be accidental elbows, falls, and collisions. While these are not necessarily purposeful in the game, they do happen a lot and the guards can help protect against dental injuries in the most aggressive plays or rebounds of the sport.

4. Soccer

Soccer is another sport that is not considered high-impact, but a mouthguard is still highly recommended. If you’ve ever seen an intense game of soccer, you know that players can fall, get headbutted, or collide on the field. Imagine the difference in a collision when a guard is being worn as opposed to no guards.

The risk of chipped teeth and jaw injuries is high. Guards are not typically required, but they are recommended, especially for youth players or players with braces. The guard can help avoid chipped or broken teeth from collisions or other impacts on the field.

5. Wrestling

Wrestling typically requires opponents to wear a mouthguard because of the physical contact in the sport. They may not be throwing heavy punches, but they are in very close contact and physical. Most wrestlers also wear headgear to protect against facial injuries and concussions.

The mouthguard in wrestling helps to protect teeth, but in this case, it also helps cushion jaw impacts to reduce the risk of concussions.

6. Lacrosse

Most lacrosse leagues require mouthguards for their players. This sport is full of high speed balls and sticks and injuries are very common. Mouth protection is essential to help prevent injuries, especially if there were to be any sort of impact with the ball or the stick during play.

Additional Sports to Consider

We’ve shared 6 popular or highly recommended sports to wear a mouth retainer here, but there are so many more. Keep in mind that the ADA recommends the use of guards for 29 different sports, which is substantial. Some additional sports that should consider the use of guards include:

• Boxing
• Gymnastics
• Volleyball
• Skateboarding
• Softball/baseball
• Martial arts
• Skiing
• Surfing

These are just a few examples to consider.

Final Thoughts

From field to court and many places in between, mouthguards are a vital form of protection for youth and adults playing sports. With so many recommendations for sports, the importance of using a guard simply cannot be stated enough. Equip yourself or your athlete for the protection they deserve and their safety every time they go out to play.