Athletes Attitudes Towards the Use of Mouthguards

Methods: Athletes of 4 different sports (hockey (H), icehockey (I), basketball (B) and kickboxing (K)) were contacted. All athletes received a questionnaire. The general questions dealed with the attitudes towards protective measures in potentially dangerous situations (use of car, bicycle and skates) and the attitude towards oral hygiene and dental attendance. Further, some specific questions about their previous experiences with mouthguards were asked.

Results: 61 athletes participated in the study (H: 29.5%; I: 21.3%; B: 19.7% and K: 29.5%). The mean age of the participants was 18.23 ± 6.55 years. 85.7% were students. 59% had already used a mouthguard (H: 83.3%; I: 0%; B: 41.7%; K: 88.9%) and 91.1% considers their sport as dangerous. All participants paid some attention to their dental care. 94.8% of them brushed there teeth minimum once a day, and 96.6% visit their dentist yearly. Despite the legal obligation to wear a car belt, less than half of the athletes (43.1%) use it all the time, (H: 47.1%; I: 46.2%; B: 44.4% and K: 38.9%). A bicycle helmet and skating protection is seldom or never used by respectively 94.8% (H: 94.4%; I: 92.3%; B: 100% and K: 94.4%) and 50% (H: 55.6%; I: 84.6%; B: 37.5% and K: 27.8%) of the participants.

Conclusion: Most athletes are insufficient aware of the potential danger they are in. Although they recognize they are playing a dangerous sport most athletes did not consider the use of a mouthguard during sport activities. Appropriate education of trainers and individual athletes by the dental profession and a mandatory use of mouthguards enforced by insurance companies could stimulate the use of mouthguards among athletes.