CLICK
N’ FIT Daily Bit
Do you hear these
complaints about MOUTHGUARDS?
- I just chew it ....
- No Mouthguard fits well ....
- My Mouthguard is too big and gets in the way....
- I can't breathe or talk with it in ...
- Have to keep my mouth closed or teeth clenched so it doesn't fall out ....
- It interferes and breaks my braces ....
We spend most of our time listening to the thousands of
concerned directors, coaches, parents, and athletes we meet complaining about these same issues every time when it comes to Mouthguards. Every sport has nearly mandated mouthguards or have recommended their use over the past decade and every
medical and dental professional as well as research scientists agree that
mouthguards are essential for athletes for preventing mouth and dental injuries
as well as more and more evidence indicating their high levels of impact absorption to the jaw and brain. So, why are mouthguards treated as an afterthought and viewed more as a formality rather than a necessity? There is no piece of equipment more misunderstood than the mouthguard.
So, why don’t parents, players, coaches and athletic directors take
mouthguards seriously? Where are our priorities when it comes to the best and most protective and effective equipment for our athletes?
More often than
not, the mouthguard is treated by many as a mere nuisance. Worse yet, parents who are responsible for
protecting their children do not prioritize Mouthguards high on the equipment
list. We see parents, program directors,
and athletes spending more money on buying tape, sticks, the latest accessories
for their sport rather than even considering an investment in a good mouthguard which is and should be one of the most important pieces of equipment in the bag. Part of the problem is the lack of proper education and awareness. It is easy to fall back on the cheap substandard boil and bite store bought
mouthguard that everyone has come to know. And for all intensive purposes the store
bought boil and bite mouthguard is primarily to blame as it promotes the issues
and complaints mentioned above. It is
made to do everything everyone complains about.
We see mouthguards dangling from facemasks, stuck in helmets, "fish hooked" half in
and half out of mouths, or just missing completely. But, "something is better than nothing" is the typical irresponsible response. So, are we surprised by the reaction and the perception of mouthguards by many of the "uneducated" or "inexperienced" folks? No. However, we hope this 'Daily Bit' will provide the necessary information and introduce you to what is available and change the priorities of many and why every athlete should where a Click N' Fit CUSTOM FITTED mouthguard.
As professional athletes and organization are teaming up with research scientists and and using various forms of custom fitted mouthguards, it is clearly a very important stance on the importance of custom mouthguards in sports. Additionally, it signifies the types of Mouthguards that exist and quality of the mouthguards that should be used. Professional and collage athletes where CUSTOM FITTED mouthguards for the fit, protection, and performance -- why shouldn't all youth athletes being wearing them as well??
Many if not all sports organizations' or leagues' rules mandate the use of Mouthguards
at the youth level and more and more are requiring at the adult level as both a
requirement and a recommendation. However, in
mandating such an important piece of equipment, there is no information on the types of mouthguards that are available and the level of protection they provide. Let's talk about the options:
The Boil and
Bite (or molded) store bought cheap mouthguard (most common)
Having something we ‘guess’ is better than
nothing, right? But, this substandard piece of equipment has essentially created the
mouthguard’s bad rap and athletes are less and less protected because of their resistance to wearing the mouthguard properly. Many reasons
players do not like mouthguards— and consequently tend not to wear them are:
o Hard
to breath
o Doesn’t
fit well
o Have
to keep jaws closed or teeth clenched for it to stay in place or not fall out of ones mouth
o Can’t
talk
o Uncomfortable
Like all other pieces of equipment, there isn't a one size fits all and they do not account for all different sizes and shapes of mouths or gender. Many have struggled with boiling, cutting, re-boiling, re-cutting, etc. and it still does not fit. This frustration has discouraged the use of the mouthguard because of the poor experience of trying to use it. This unfortunately puts your children and athletes at great risk to serious injury.
The Custom-FITTED (not molded) Mouthguard made to perfection
Not to be confused with custom "moldable" which is the claim of boil and bite mouthguards, the custom fitted mouthguard is
fabricated and custom made from the exact dental impression of the athlete. This perfect snug fit of a custom fitted mouthguard
allows athletes to breathe, talk, drink, run, jump, and feel comfortable to perform at
the highest level while wearing it. The Click N' Fit "Clicks IN and Stays IN" place until it’s
removed. The purpose, importance, and
effectiveness of a mouthguard is to be IN PLACE at the time of impact
when you least expect it! Absorbing the impact and minimizing serious injury is the goal. The only way for this to occur is to wear a mouthguard that snaps up and clicks into place.
In addition, and often overlooked, it has also been noted that custom mouthguards are more sanitary (healthier) as well and have a far lower rate of bacterial transfer. With store bought mouthguards being removed and inserted over 50 times more during a rugby or football game for example because of their poor fit, this increases the risk of illness due to bacteria, pesticides, and other harmful agents significantly. Custom fitted mouthguard due to their perfect fit decreases this risk significantly as the need to remove and insert is minimal preserving the health of the athlete. Think about how the athletes need to talk, drink, or adjust the their store bought mouthguard during a match or game -- almost every ten seconds. Once an athlete wears a Click N' Fit custom fitted mouthguard, they will never wear another store-bought mouthguard again.
Safety, Protection, and Concussions
Do Mouthguards Prevent Concussions?
This has been a topic of debate as various studies have been done on helmets, facemasks, chin straps, and mouthguards and their effectiveness on PREVENTING concussions. Injuries cannot be prevented however, steps to assist in minimizing the risk associated with serious injuries especially to the head, mouth, and jaw are possible. Although testing will continue, it has been noted that since the use of helmets, mouthguards, chin straps, and facemasks, the incidence of head and oral facial injuries have decreased significantly over the past decade.
It's clear that having a poorly fitting mouthguard that is not worn properly or even at all is not effective and serves no purpose to the athlete exposing them to risk of serious injury. What we do know is that dental professionals are beginning to accept the early testing results that confirm, in theory, that a properly designed mouthguard—given proper thickness, adequate coverage of teeth surface and custom fit—can, in fact, play an important role in minimizing the incidence of impact and absorb and distribute the impact to the mouth, jaw, and brain that may lead to concussions.
You see more and more professional, college, and elite athletes wearing custom fitted mouthguards which indicates there is a significant importance to their safety.
Is the Cost Worth the Protection?
Not to offend any of you reading as we may have all been guilty of this at a time, here are the senseless statements or questions we are often asked or we receive as to reasons why someone decides NOT TO purchase a Click N' Fit Custom Mouthguard.
- Why spend $80-$100 on a custom-fitted
mouthguard when a cheap boil-and-bite can be found at any local sporting good
store for less than $15?
- My kid is growing, why should I buy a custom mouthguard when my child will probably need a new one next season or in a couple years. I'll think about it when they stop growing.
- Why should a female athlete or Canadian
player spend that much on a mouthguard since it’s not required to wear one?
- My kid is a goalie, they don't need (have) to where a mouthguard.
Professional athletes can be the best source of direction in this area as they have access to and spend countless resources in protecting themselves, their brands, and their organizations. These athletes, trainers, and scientists continue their interest in finding the perfect mouthguard -- indicating there is probably a major benefit to it.
Those of us who have been buying store bought mouthguards probably purchase a minimum of 3-5 in a season equating to $40-$75+. And, based on experience and the thousands of frustrated parents we speak to it is because the athlete has chewed the mouthgaurd until it is unrecognizable, lost it because it fell out of their mouths or off their facemask, tried to boiled and cut or trimmed it so many times it doesn't fit.... and the list goes on. Clearly, these are all indications that the mouthguard is not being worn or used as it is intended. Most importantly, it indicates there is a lack of safety and protection for the athlete over an entire season.
For about the same affordable price of buying multiple ineffective mouthguards and the piece of mind knowing that your athlete is protected at the highest level possible the cost is well worth it 10 times over. We didn't even mention the dental or medical costs associated with fixing a chipped tooth, having teeth knocked out, biting through lips/tongues/or cheeks, teeth grinding, or worse suffering a head injury.
This is an investment in safety and protection for the lifetime of the athlete's career. Growth and change are a never ending process and the "excuse" that your child's still growing or his/her mouth is changing as a reason to not protect them is absurd. So, is the right decision to not protect the athlete with proper equipment until they are 18-20 years old? We know that large amounts of money are spent on equipment and accessories that are to enhance the performance of the athlete and continue to be purchased as the athlete improves. Why would the decision to NOT protect the athlete during their growth with the proper mouthguard be any different? Question of Priorities?
So, the next time you are thinking about a mouthguard, give it some more thought and realize the responsibility you have to yourself, your program, and/or your child when selecting the safest, most protective, and most effective mouthguard possible. The Click N' Fit is an affordable professional high quality investment in protecting your athlete for them to achieve long-term success in whatever sport or activity they are competing in.
For more information on our various selection of mouthguards and endless customization, visit us at www.clicknfitmouthguards.com or our
online store to order your Click N' Fit. If you have any questions, please contact us via email at
info@clicknfitmouthguards.com.
