One game plan dental professionals use to support their patients is putting the ball in their court. For decades, mouthguards have empowered athletes to take control of their oral safety, significantly reducing the risk of dental injuries in sports.
This ADA archival collection highlights the extensive efforts of dental professionals and oral health organizations to help athletes better protect their teeth. These collaborative endeavors have played a crucial role in promoting a culture of safety and prevention in the sports community. The collection features a range of initiatives, including:
- Donating Safety Equipment: Learn about programs where dental professionals and organizations have provided mouthguards and other protective gear to athletes at all levels, ensuring they have access to essential safety equipment.
- Producing Reports and Public Service Announcements: Explore published reports and public service campaigns that have raised awareness about the importance of oral safety in sports, educating both athletes and the general public on how to prevent dental injuries.
- Offering Consumer Resources: Discover the wealth of information available to athletes and their families, including best practices for choosing and using mouthguards, and guidelines on maintaining oral health while engaging in sports activities.
Report of the Joint Committee on Mouth Protectors of the AAHPER and the ADA (1962)
Five Health Organizations Double Down on Mouth Guards (2016)
ADA News - Georgia dentist donates mouthguards to roller derby league (2019)
ADA News Release - Recommendations to Public Schools on Student Dental Health (1956)
ADA News - California dentist provides mouthguards to those who need them (2017)
ADA News - April is National Facial Protection Month; ADA brochure highlights sports safety (2012)
ADA News - Protecting athletes’ teeth during Facial Protection Month (2018)
Working With The Schools: Some Suggestions for Dental Societies (1971)
Your Child's Teeth (1977)
Athletic mouth protectors (mouthguards)
ADA.org overview on mouthguards, including types of mouth protectors and instructions for proper use.
Keep Your Smile Safe with a Mouthguard!
Posters, coloring sheets (pictured right), activity sheets, and more on the topic of dental safety in sports from MouthHealthy.org
3 Things All Athletes Should Do for Their Teeth
MouthHealthy.org article on recommendations for athletes, in particular, to take care of their oral health.
Save-A-Tooth solution Seal of Acceptance
ADA.org release on an ADA Seal approved emergency tooth preservation system, Save-A-Tooth, which nourishes knocked-out teeth for replantation by a dentist within 24 hours. Includes product directions, ingredients, warnings, and company information. The solution can be purchased by consumers and could be an excellent first aid kit item for sports teams.
Give Your Mouth a Sporting Chance [Video]
A PSA, also released under the title "Come Off the Court With a Smile", produced by the American Dental Association circa the 1960s on why to wear mouthguards. Reasons include avoiding tooth chipping and cracking along with avoiding tooth loss.
Protect Your All-American Smile [Video]
A circa 1960s PSA from the American Dental Association directed at parents, asking them to make sure their children wear mouthguards during contact sports. The video profiles an "all American boy" who is active in sports and popular with girls his age until he smiles.
This PSA was also released under the title "Handsome Harry"