Before you pull on your uniform and tighten your cleats, don’t forget to check to make sure you have your mouthguard. As Anchorage and Wasilla’s leading emergency dentist office, Four Corners Dental Group has treated countless patients for sports-related oral injuries that could have all been avoided if the patient had been wearing a mouthguard. The practice offers effective and affordable dental care services, but their top priority is helping you protect your mouth and avoid injury.

Here are the top four reasons you should always wear a mouthguard when playing sports:

• Reduce The Risk: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), contact sports send over 600,000 people to the emergency room for dental-related injuries each year. Mouthguards protect teeth by absorbing and distributing impact. When you’re not wearing one, you’re 60 times more likely to suffer a mouth-related injury. Colgate estimates that about 200,000 oral injuries could be prevented each year by wearing a mouthguard—which means you can avoid expensive ER visits and keep your head in the game.
• Protect More Than Your Teeth: There’s a reason why mouthguards aren’t called “teeth guards.” They may cover the teeth, but they protect the mouth as a whole. By covering your teeth, mouthguards also protect your lips, cheeks, gums, and tongue. They also reduce the risk of other serious injuries like jaw joint fracture and displacement.
• They’re Comfortable: The number one excuse athletes use to get out of wearing a mouthguard is that they’re uncomfortable and restrict their breathing. If you invest in a custom-made mouthguard, however, you solve both those problems. A custom-made mouthguard is molded around your teeth to ensure the perfect fit that is extremely effective, comfortable, and also easy to clean.
• Save Money: The cost of a custom mouthguard will be nothing compared to the hospital and emergency dentist bills you’ll receive after treating an oral injury. If you lose even one tooth, you could end up paying thousands of dollars to have it replanted or replaced. When comparing your options, investing in a custom mouthguard and consistently wearing it during sports will always be a worthwhile decision.

The staff at Four Corners Dental Group truly cares about your oral health. Call the Anchorage office today at (907) 258-3384, or call (907) 376-2790 to reach the Wasilla branch. You can also visit their website to learn more about this emergency dentist.