If you participate in any of these 30 sports or activities, you should wear a mouthguard

Mouthguard recommendations from the American Dental Association

April is National Facial Protection Month. As the weather gets nicer, millions of Americans venture outdoors to participate in sports and other physical activities. Unfortunately, that spike in activity also leads to a sharp uptick in head, mouth, and other facial injuries.

Who is behind National Facial Protection Month?

National Facial Protection Month is cosponsored by the Academy for Sports Dentistry, the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and the American Association of Orthodontists to raise awareness about the importance of this pervasive issue.

How serious are sports-related dental injuries?

Thanks to a national focus on concussions and increased enforcement of helmet use, head injuries in youth sports are on the decline. Less attention, however, has been paid to preventing dental injuries in sports. According to the CDC, sports-related dental injuries alone account for more than 600,000 emergency room each year.

For what sports and recreational activities should I wear a mouthguard?

That's why the ADA recommends “properly fitted” mouthguards “to reduce the incidence and severity of oral injury in sporting or recreational activities.” If you’re an athlete or an otherwise active person, the ADA recommends that you wear a mouthguard while performing any of these 30 sports and recreational activities.

Some activities are obvious: football, boxing, and basketball. Others are surprising (until you think about it): cycling, rollerblading, horse riding/equestrian sports, skydiving, and even competitive weightlifting.

Share this post and infographic with anyone who performs these activities.