Why You Need to Wear Mouth Guards in Soccer
Mouth guards are often worn by athletes in contact sports such as boxing and football, but soccer players do not wear them as frequently. However, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that athletes wear mouth guards when playing any sport that "may pose a risk of injury."
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Prevention
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When they are properly fitted, mouth guards are capable of reducing the occurrences and severity of dental injuries during sporting activities, according to the ADA.
Specific Injuries
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Types of injuries that mouth guards help protect athletes against include broken jaws and teeth, cuts to the cheek and tongue and damage to the roots and bone that keep teeth in place, according to the California Dental Association (CDA). They also can help prevent concussions.
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Extent of Protection
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The ADA asserts that an athlete is 60 times more likely to absorb an injury to the teeth when not wearing a mouth guard. The CDA says mouth guards help prevent 200,000 oral injuries in athletes each year.
Soccer Injury Circumstance
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Soccer players are particularly vulnerable to oral injuries when making a play on a ball in the air. Contact with a well-struck ball or the head, knee or elbow of an opponent can endanger the area that mouth guards help protect.
Choosing a Mouth Guard
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The ADA recommends selecting a mouth guard that is resilient, comfortable, easy to clean and does not hamper breathing or speech.
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