Sports Gear To Protect Teeth and Jaw

If you are an athlete, then this is a good month to do some heavy reading about your sport.

As National Facial Protection Month, this is the perfect time to learn about how you might prevent the facial injuries that can result in serious issues now and long into the future.

These injuries are regularly seen by oral surgeons, who report that the most common cause is athletic accident.

So, for those who like to stay physically active and who may face regular risk of jaw injury, here are a few of the guidelines that can keep you safe, by sport.

Baseball
It has long been tradition of catchers and batters to wear head gear to defend against serious accidents, but more recently helmets with clear plastic have been crafted to further decrease the potential for injury. While they are great for batters, they also serve an important function in the field.

Ice Hockey
More and more frequently at professional, semi-pro, college, and high school levels, spectators are seeing players donning face masks that help to absorb the impact of a direct hit by fellow player or puck.

Boxing
Mouth guards were made mandatory several years ago, but they have been further improved upon in more recent years to increase the protection that they offer and also improve the airflow to the boxer.

Lacrosse
This is another sport that sees frequent player-to-player contact, and there is also risk of a ball or a stick to the face. For this reason players should wear helmets with full face masks.

For more information on many other popular sports, continue reading at the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial website.