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Posts for tag: mouthguard

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.”

It might seem that adults who play aggressive, high-contact professional sports (ice hockey, for example) have the highest chance of sustaining dental injuries. But for many — like NHL hall-of-famer Mike Bossy — their first injured teeth came long before they hit the big time.
“The earliest [dental injury] I remember is when I was around 12,” the former New York Islanders forward recently told an interviewer with the Huffington Post. That came from a stick to Bossy's mouth, and resulted in a chipped front tooth. “Unfortunately, money was not abundant back in those days, and I believe I finally had it repaired when I was 16.” he said.
You may also think there's a greater chance of sustaining dental trauma from “collision sports” like football and hockey — but statistics tell a different story. In fact, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), you (or your children) are more likely to have teeth damaged while playing soccer than football — and basketball players have a risk that's 15 times higher than football players.
So — whether the game is hockey, basketball or something else — should you let the chance of dental injury stop you or your children from playing the sports they love? We think not... but you should be aware of the things you can do to prevent injury, and the treatment options that are available if it happens.
Probably the single most effective means of preventing sports-related dental injuries is to get a good, custom-made mouth guard — and wear it. The AGD says mouthguards prevent some 200,000 such injuries every year. And the American Dental Association says that athletes who don't wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to sustain harm to the teeth than those who do.
Many studies have shown that having a custom-fitted mouthguard prepared in a dental office offers far greater protection then an off-the-shelf “small-medium-large” type, or even the so-called “boil and bite” variety. Using an exact model of your teeth, we can fabricate a mouthguard just for you, made of the highest-quality material. We will ensure that it fits correctly and feels comfortable in your mouth — because if you don't wear it, it can't help!
But even if you do have an injury, don't panic: Modern dentistry offers plenty of ways to repair it! The most common sports-related dental injuries typically involve chipped or cracked teeth. In many cases, these can be repaired by bonding with tooth-colored composite resins. For mild to moderate injury, this method of restoration can produce a restoration that's practically invisible. It's also a relatively uncomplicated and inexpensive procedure, which makes it ideal for growing kids, who may elect to have a more permanent restoration done later.
If you have questions about mouthguards or sports-related dental injuries, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Athletic Mouthguards,” and “An Introduction to Sports Injuries & Dentistry.”
Advance Family Dental Care
Naperville, IL 60563

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- 2019
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- Bobby Bones Dances His Way to Dental Damage
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- What Cosmetic Dentistry Can Do for You
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- Keep Your Saliva Flowing - Your Oral Health Depends on it
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- Avoid Implant Failure by Watching Out for These Mouth Problems
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- Simplify Your Toothpaste Purchase by Looking for These Ingredients
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- 2.6 Million Fans 'Like' Justin Bieber's Chipped Tooth
- How Often Should I Visit My Dentist?
- Look at the Long-Term Costs When Considering Dental Implants
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- The Secret to Preventing Gum Disease - Control Bacterial Plaque
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- Cosmetic Dentistry Remakes Your Smile
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- Enhance Your Smile with Dental Veneers
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- Kris Dunn Is the Latest NBA Player to Injure His Teeth on the Court
- The Type of Tooth Pain You Have Could be Telling You What's Wrong
- 2017
- September (6)
- Porcelain Veneers: A Less Invasive Way to Transform Your Smile
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- Need a Root Canal?
- Baseball's Francisco Lindor Shines as "Mr. Smile"
- Your Next Dental Visit Might Save Your Life - Here's How
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- July (5)
- Include Limitations on Sugar in Your Tooth Decay Prevention Strategy
- Jamie Foxx Chips a Tooth - This Time by Accident!
- You'll Experience Little to No Discomfort During and After Implant Surgery
- Types of Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures
- Even with Mercury, Dental Amalgam is a Safe Choice for Tooth Filling
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- Stains from Within a Tooth Require Professional Whitening
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- April (6)
- Actress Emma Stone Reveals How Thumb Sucking Affected Her Teeth
- Tips on Encouraging Healthy Snacking While Your Child's at School
- Advancing Gum Disease Requires Thorough Treatment to Control it
- All Gum Disease Treatments Have the Same Goal - Removing Bacterial Plaque
- What Is Root Canal Therapy?
- Nancy O'Dell on Making Oral Hygiene Fun for Kids
- February (6)
- What are the Benefits of Dental Veneers?
- Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello Chips a Tooth, but Concert Still "Worth It"
- Reduce Sugar Consumption - for a Healthier Mouth and Body
- Immediate Dentures Provide You With Teeth While Your Gums Heal
- You Should Brush and Floss Around Your Implant to Ensure its Longevity
- Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!
- 2016
- November (6)
- Reduce Your Oral Cancer Risk with Better Diet and Lifestyle Choices
- Bitewing X-rays: Your Questions Answered
- What Dental Implants Could Do for You
- Even Though not in the "Smile Zone" You Should Replace that Back Tooth
- Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
- Cleaning Your Oral Appliance Extends its Life and Ensures Good Health
- September (6)
- What You Need To Know About Root Canals
- A "Silent" Disease Gets Recognition
- Bitewing X-Rays Provide Early Detection of Tooth Decay in Back Teeth
- Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match
- Artificial Sweeteners can Boost your Dental Health
- Patchy Discolorations on the Tongue Aren't a Cause for Worry
- August (5)
- Minimally Invasive Dentistry: A New Approach to Preventing and Treating Decay
- Jimmy Fallon Can’t Catch a Break - Except in His Tooth
- What Your Toothache Could Be Telling You About Your Smile
- Local Anesthesia Eliminates Pain Completely During Dental Work
- Diet and Lifestyle Choices Key to Dental Health During College Years
- July (7)
- Clear Aligners Reduce Risk for Developing Gum Disease Better than Braces
- Straighten Your Teeth Without Hiding Your Smile
- Even Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence Aren't Immune From Bad Breath!
- Am I a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
- The Time Interval to Replant a Knocked Out Tooth Can Affect its Longevity
- Why You Should Consider Cosmetic Dentistry
- That Small Mouth Sore is Likely Nothing - but Still Have it Checked
- June (6)
- Do Your Dentures and Mouth a Favor: Take Them Out at Night
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- Johnny's Teeth Aren't Rotten Any More
- Monitoring Blood Pressure is Also Important During Dental Care
- Treating a "Gummy" Smile Starts with Finding out the Cause
- Oral Irrigation can be an Effective Alternative to Traditional Flossing
- May (6)
- Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most
- Your Teenager may need to Wait on an Implant for a Missing Tooth
- A Straighter Smile Doesn't Mean A Mouth Full Of Metal
- Prudent Use of X-Rays in Children Provides the most Benefit at the Lowest Risk
- Find Out Why You or Your Partner Snores - it may be Sleep Apnea
- Jason Derulo's Ideal Match
- March (6)
- Eden Sher and the Lost Retainer
- Regular Screenings Could Help With Early Oral Cancer Detection
- Address Your Teeth Grinding Habit Early to Avoid Potential Tooth Loss
- Persistent Jaw Pain After an Injury Needs Immediate Attention
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- Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win
- January (6)
- Dental Implants and Diabetes
- Gaining a New Attractive Smile is More than Achievable
- Know the Risks and Benefits for Same-Day Tooth Replacement
- How Bonding Can Help Fix Minor Imperfections in Your Smile
- Why Ignoring a Missing Tooth Could Be Bad News For Your Jaw
- Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
- 2015
- December (6)
- Put an End to Bad Oral Habits to Slow the Rate of Tooth Wear
- More Than a new Smile - Dental Implants Help Stop Bone Loss as Well
- Things you Should Know about Oral Cancer
- The Different Parts of a Dental Implant
- Ariana Grande Breaks Free - of Her Wisdom Teeth
- Treating Dry Mouth is Important for Maintaining Good Oral Health
- July (7)
- Limiting Refined Sugar in Your Diet can Reduce Risk of Tooth Decay
- Lamar Odom Rebounds From Dental Anxiety
- There are Various Ways to Treat Sensitivity - Depending on its Cause
- Keep an Eye on your Gums to Catch Disease Early
- How Scaling and Root Planing Saves Teeth?
- Veneers Whiten Teeth in a Snap
- Extracting Wisdom Teeth Now May Prevent Dental Problems Later
- April (7)
- Take a Lesson From Hockey Player Mike Bossy
- How Cosmetic Dentistry Can Change Your Smile For the Better
- Bad Breath — Discovering The Causes & Treatments
- Diagnodent Laser Diagnostic Scanning
- Taking the Right Steps to Prevent Early Tooth Decay in Children
- Your Guide to Whiter Teeth
- Are mouthguards important? Just ask Fitness Expert Jillian Michaels
- 2014
- December (6)
- Sugar Substitutes: Sweeter for Tooth Health
- Understanding the Benefits - and Limitations - of Dental Insurance
- Anchorage Devices can add Stability During Orthodontic Treatment
- Cosmetic Dentistry and the Urban Legend
- Your Smile Should Be Your Number One Priority
- Ultrasonic Scalers can Effectively Clean Most Patients' Gum Tissues
- September (7)
- Tooth-Colored Fillings: True or False
- Removing Bacterial Plaque is Critical to Halting Advancing Gum Disease
- All-On-4®: The Perfect Solution for Missing Teeth
- Encountering Positive Experiences the Key to Overcoming Dental Anxiety
- Kristi Yamaguchi's Braces Helped Give Her a Winning Smile
- What Cosmetic Option Would Best Improve Your Smile?
- Bone Grafting can put Implants Back on Your Options List
- 2013
- December (6)
- The Top 5 Things to Know About Orthodontic Retainers
- Cancer Treatment and Oral Health: What You Should Know
- Quitting the Smoking Habit Could Vastly Improve Your Dental Health
- Top Three Reasons Invisalign is the Clear Choice in Naperville
- Giuliana Rancic Prepares for Her Son's First Dental Visit
- Assessing and Treating your Risk for Tooth Decay can Prevent Future Occurrences
- October (5)
- Tooth Pain During Pressure Changes Could Be Warning of a Bigger Problem
- New Cone Beam Scanning Surpasses Standard X-Rays for Accuracy and Detail
- How The Biggest Loser Star Jillian Michaels Keeps Her Winning Smile
- Giving a Knocked Out Tooth a Second Chance
- Oral Piercing Can Lead to Problems With Your Teeth and Gums
- 2012
- November (5)
- End Your Fears and Relax with Oral Sedation Dentistry
- 7 FAQs About Impacted Wisdom Teeth
- Stabilizing Your New Smile: Answering Your Questions about Orthodontic Retainers
- TV Designer Nate Berkus Is Thankful for Childhood Preventive Dental Treatments
- Not Just Filling in the Gaps: Lost Teeth Have Unexpected Consequences
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