mouthguards matter
"A single blow to the mouth without proper protection could mean chipped teeth, gum injuries, or worse—costly dental procedures that many families couldn’t afford. For Luke, this wasn’t just about sports safety; it was about preventative care and education."
The American Dental Association (ADA) estimates that properly fitted mouthguards can prevent approximately 200,000 injuries each year in high school and college football alone. These injuries include fractured teeth, knocked-out teeth, and other damage to the mouth and face.
While the specific number of preventable injuries across all high school sports isn't explicitly stated, the ADA's estimate for football suggests a significant potential for injury reduction in other sports as well.
80–90%
fewer injuries
“Wearing a mouthguard reduces your risk of serious dental injury by up to 90%.”
5X DIFFERENCE
with custom fit
“Custom-fitted mouthguards deliver protection nearly five times better than wearing none.”
U.S. injuries
200,000
prevented/year
“Over 200,000 sports-related oral injuries are prevented every year in U.S. youth football with proper mouthguard use.”
6X GREATER RISK
“An athlete is 60 times more likely to suffer tooth damage if not wearing a mouthguard.”
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Dental Injuries Reduced by ~80–90%
A 2019 systematic review found that athletes who wear mouthguards are between 82% and 93% less likely to experience dentofacial injuries compared to non-users American Dental AssociationPubMed.
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Risk of Oral Trauma Is 1.6–1.9× Higher Without a Mouthguard
Meta-analysis shows that those playing contact sports without a mouthguard face nearly twice the risk of orofacial injury PubMed.
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Custom-Fit Guards Cut Injury Rates by Nearly 5×
In a large study covering 70,936 Division I college basketball athlete exposures, dental injuries occurred at a rate of 0.12 per 1,000 exposures among custom mouthguard users vs. 0.67 per 1,000 among non-users—a nearly 5-fold reduction PubMedAmerican Dental Association.
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Mouthguards Prevent ~200,000 Injuries Annually in U.S. Youth Sports
The American Dental Association estimates that more than 200,000 orofacial injuries are avoided each year in high school and collegiate football alone thanks to mouthguard use Nielson DentistryJulie Stante DDS.
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Athletes Are 60× More Likely to Damage Teeth Without a Guard
Youth athletes are up to 60 times more likely to suffer dental damage when not wearing a mouthguard versus those who do Nationwide Children's Hospitalmeadowsorthodontics.com.
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Mouthguards Also Protect Against Soft Tissue Injury
Wearing a guard significantly reduces cuts, bruises, dislocations, and jaw fractures by cushioning and distributing impact forces AAPDThe University of Alabama at Birmingham.
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Mixed Evidence—Concussion Protection Less Certain
While a 3 mm properly fitted guard might reduce concussion risk by stabilizing the jaw and absorbing impact, evidence remains inconclusive overall AAPDAmerican Dental AssociationCU Anschutz NewsAAPD.
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Under-Usage Remains an Issue
Surveys suggest that only around 42–60% of young athletes consistently wear mouthguards, even when they understand the risks jpedres.orgDelta Dental.
KEY MOUTHGUARD FACTS AND STATISTICS
Join us in our mission to protect young athletes. Together, we can make a difference and ensure the safety and well-being of high school athletes across Florida.
