How Many Athletes Wear Mouthguards?

How Many Athletes Wear Mouthguards?

How Many Athletes Wear Mouthguards?

Mouthguards are one of the most effective tools for preventing dental and facial injuries in sports, yet despite their benefits, many athletes don't wear them regularly. Across different studies and sport settings, mouthguard use varies widely, influenced by sport, culture, rules, and comfort.

As the human population of the world grows, so does the amount of humans that will play sports. Although it is nearly impossible to put an exact number on the amount of people that participate in sports around the world, it is estimated that over 40 million individuals participate in at least one sport every year.

Most people would agree that mouthguards are an important piece of equipment but the amount of people that actually wear one while participating in sports is another story. Multiple surveys found surprisingly low usage rates among athletes- even in sports where mouthguards are highly recommended.

One overview reported that only about 7% of athletes consistently wear mouthguards during practice and games. In specific competitive settings like college sports, a study found that only 27.6% of athletes reported wearing a mouthguard during gameplay, with contact athletes being more likely to use them than non-contact players.

These figures show that even though mouthguards help reduce the risk of injury, many athletes either skip them or only use them sporadically especially at the collegiate and pro level.

Rules And Mandates Make A Big Difference

Where mouthguards are required by league or association rules, usage rates significantly rise. A study of NCAA ice hockey reported that athletic trainers estimated that around 63% of athletes wore mouthguards consistently in competition across divisions. Mandatory safety standards seem to significantly boost mouthguard use-underscoring how important policy and enforcement are in protecting athletes.

Why Do Athletes Still Skip Wearing Mouthguards?

Despite the known benefits, there are several common reasons athletes don't wear mouthguards:

• Discomfort or breathing difficulty

• Perceived impact on communication during play

• Low awareness of injury risk

• cultural norms or habits within teams

Conclusion

Mouthguards are proven to reduce the risk of serious dental injuries yet many athletes still don't wear them regularly. Usage rates vary from as low as a few percent in some sports to around half or more in organized contact sports, especially where rules require them.

Boosting awareness, improving fit and comfort, and expanding mandatory policies could help increase adoption and protect more athletes from preventable injuries.

THE MATERIALS AND INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE HAVE BEEN PREPARED OR ASSEMBLED BY THE MOUTHGUARD REVIEW AND ARE INTENDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR ADVICE FROM A LICENSED HEALTH-CAR PROFESSIONAL. YOU SHOULD NOT RELY SOLELY ON THIS CONTENT, AND THE MOUTHGUARD REVIEW ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR INACCURACIES. ALWAYS READ LABELS AND DIRECTIONS BEFORE USING A PRODUCT. SOME OF THE INFORMATION MAY BE DATED AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE MOST CURRENT EVENTS. I WROTE THIS ARTICLE MYSELF AND IT EXPRESSES MY OWN OPINIONS.