Can Mouthguards Impact Athletic Performance?

Let us first address what we all are seeing with respect to high school Mouthguards.

I do not have blinders on when it comes to 99% of the mouthguards used in high school sports. I see it and I actually understand it.

Most coaches, athletic trainers and fitness personel have an "aversion" to mouthguards for their high school athletes.

They see them struggling with this "contraption" just to keep it in their mouths, let alone the problems it must create because the mouthguards don't fit, they have to find a way to bite on it to keep it from dislodging upon impact, they cut the "backs" off to have less mouthguard to deal with, they hang them out of their mouths because they can't make it work with it in their mouths, they can't wait to spit them out after play has stopped, they just chew them up til the mouthguard is all distorted and now it fits even worse then when they first put it in their mouth.

       They can't hydrate with them in.

       They can't talk to their teammates with them in.

       They can't breathe properly with them in so what might that be           doing to "hasten their fatigue resistance" come the last 5-10           minutes of play at the end of the game when most games are           won or loss.

There is no way for this "contraption" probably improves their athletic performance but you are mandated to wear it to protect your teeth in specific sports. That is why you rarely even see a mouthguard in high school basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer where it is an option not to wear one.

How many high school athetes do you know who like their mouthguard and do not want to play without it?  

However, they are required to wear them in Football, Lacrosse, Field Hockey and Ice Hockey.

Back to the topic: 

Can Mouthguards Impact Athletic Performance?

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