Not many people know this, but basketball is the number one sport for maxillofacial injuries. The fast pace and aggressive nature of the sport means that players often make contact. Elbows often meet with heads while going for layups in the paint. At a professional level, players regularly put their personal safety on the line in the quest to be the greatest. This is why we are beginning to see more and more star NBA players wearing NBA mouthguards. LeBron James and Steph Curry protect their mouths and teeth with guards.
Basketball is more prone to facial injuries due to hand or elbow contact, or players colliding with each other. It is not uncommon for two athletes to fight for a rebound and take an elbow to the mouth. This can cause a tooth break or even a tooth to fall out. The cost of having a tooth repaired or replaced can range anywhere from $300 to $15,000 depending on the repair that has to be done and who is doing the repair. Wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard for basketball can minimize the damage or even prevent it fully. Sadly most basketball players will only start to wear a mouthguard after they have had a dental injury themselves or witnessed another player suffer from a dental injury. Wearing a mouthguard is a good first step, but getting the right mouthguard for basketball is important.
Best Mouthguard for Basketball
NBA basketball players typically wear a 3mm Clear mouthguard that is custom made from an impression of their teeth. Custom made laboratory mouthguards are nothing like boil and bite mouthguards that are purchased at a sporting goods store. Dentists make these mouthguards from dental impressions and then send them to a lab. This customization process means that these mouthguards are extremely comfortable and do not affect breathing or communication with other teammates. The fit of a custom mouthguard will snap onto your teeth and provide more protection than a boil and bite guard. This level of optimization is essential for professionals to perform at their best, and their teams spend a lot to ensure that their mouths are properly protected. While clear ones are popular, a gold mouthguard looks great too.
At SportingSmiles, we recommend wearing a mouthguard as soon as you have all of your permanent teeth. Wearing a mouthguard should be a standard part of your equipment not only during games but during practice as well.
With our customization service, we offer access to professional-level custom-fit mouthguards at a price that isn’t just for professional NBA players. Get the protection of a professional mouthguard and enjoy the performance benefits as well, all at a reasonable cost. A properly cared-for custom mouthguard should last many years and will give you the maximum protection available. Don’t wait until you experience a dental injury on the court yourself. Invest in your smile and get a customized mouthguard today.
