Sports-related dental injuries and their prevention: mouthguards, materials, perfomance, and hygiene- a narrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.79.76679Keywords
mouthguards, dental injury, dental trauma prevention, sports injury, athletic performanceAbstract
Background: Traumatic dental injuries are common among athletes. Mouthguards help prevent such injuries, with effectiveness depending on proper fit and material. Digital technologies facilitate the production of personalized mouthguards, while proper hygiene helps maintain their protective function.
Aim. To review current evidence on mouthguards in preventing sports-related dental injuries, focusing on types, materials, manufacturing methods, protective effectiveness, athletic performance, and hygiene.
Material and methods. A literature review of peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2026 was conducted using PubMed and Quality in Sport.
Results. Dental injuries are common in contact and combat sports, with maxillary central incisors most frequently affected. Custom-made mouthguards reduce injury risk, and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) remains the most widely used material. Proper cleaning and maintenance help reduce microbial contamination and biofilm formation.
Conclusions. Mouthguards are important for preventing sports-related dental injuries, particularly in contact and high-risk sports. Custom-made devices provide protection and comfort without apparent adverse effects on athletic performance. EVA remains the principal material used. Regular hygiene and maintenance help preserve mouthguard functionality. Further research is needed to standardize cleaning protocols, optimize materials for digitally manufactured mouthguards, and assess long-term clinical and protective effectiveness.
References
Abbott, P. V., Tewari, N., O’Connell, A. C., Mills, S. C., Stasiuk, H., Roettger, M., & Levin, L. (2024). The International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT) and the Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD) guidelines for prevention of traumatic dental injuries: Part 3: Mouthguards for the prevention of dental and oral trauma. Dental Traumatology: Official Publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology, 40 Suppl 1, 7–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/edt.12925
Agarwal, A., Saleem, S., Khanna, R., Singh, R. K., Doley, S., & Neerugattu, N. (2025). Impact of mouthguards on the prevention of dentofacial injuries and sports performance among athletes: An umbrella review. Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, 43(2), 163–172. https://doi.org/10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_55_25
Ahmed, I., & Fine, P. (2021). ‘Injury prevention versus performance’: Has the time come to mandate the use of mouthguards in all contact sports? BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000828
Avgerinos, S., Stamos, A., Nanussi, A., Engels-Deutsch, M., Cantamessa, S., Dartevelle, J.-L., Unamuno, E., Del Grosso, F., Fritsch, T., Crouzette, T., Striegel, M., Sánchez, C. C., Okshah, A., Tzimpoulas, N., Naka, O., Kouveliotis, G., Tzoutzas, I., Zoidis, P., Synodinos, F., … Rahiotis, C. (2025). Position Statement and Recommendations for Custom-Made Sport Mouthguards. Dental Traumatology: Official Publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology, 41(3), 246–251. https://doi.org/10.1111/edt.13019
Badari, R. N., Zaferanloo, B., Butardo, V., & Sumer, H. (2025). Surface deterioration and poor handling of sports mouthguards for young football players promote bacterial attachment and colonisation requiring mechanical cleaning. BMC Oral Health, 25(1), 1743. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-07016-9
Cao, R., Zhang, X., Xu, Y., Zhao, W., Qiu, P., & Liu, W. (2023). Influence of wearing mouthguards on performance among athletes: A systematic review. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 26(9), 493–503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2023.07.006
Comert, H., Ozdemir, M., & Kuscu, E. (2026). Youth Basketball Players’ Awareness and Experiences of Sports-Related Traumatic Dental Injuries and Mouthguards in Turkey: A Cross-Sectional Study. Dental Traumatology: Official Publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology, 42(2), 221–230. https://doi.org/10.1111/edt.70010
Contemporary Approach for Traumatic Dental Injuries in the Primary Dentition—O’Connell—2025—Dental Traumatology—Wiley Online Library. (n.d.). Retrieved 11 October 2026, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/edt.13011
de Lima, L. G. H., Dos Santos, C. S., Rocha, J. S., Tanaka, O., Rosa, E. A. R., & Gasparello, G. G. (2024). Comparative analysis of dental trauma in contact and non-contact sports: A systematic review. Dental Traumatology: Official Publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology, 40(5), 499–510. https://doi.org/10.1111/edt.12959
Dias Gonçalves, V. P., Fontes Vieira, C. M., & Colorado Lopera, H. A. (2024). The production and materials of mouthguards: Conventional vs additive manufacturing - A systematic review. Heliyon, 10(14), e34294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34294
Ferreira, G. B., Guimarães, L. S., Fernandes, C. P., Dias, R. B., Coto, N. P., Antunes, L. A. A., & Antunes, L. S. (2020). Is there enough evidence that mouthguards do not affect athletic performance? A systematic literature review. International Dental Journal, 69(1), 25–34. https://doi.org/10.1111/idj.12406
Hayashi, H., Naiki, Y., Murakami, M., Oishi, A., Takeuchi, R., Nakagawa, M., Kimoto, S., Hasegawa, Y., & Araki, A. (2022). Effects of cleaning sports mouthguards with ethylene-vinyl acetate on oral bacteria. PeerJ, 10, e14480. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14480
Krastl, G., Weiger, R., Filippi, A., Van Waes, H., Ebeleseder, K., Ree, M., Connert, T., Widbiller, M., Tjäderhane, L., Dummer, P. M. H., & Galler, K. (2021). Endodontic management of traumatized permanent teeth: A comprehensive review. International Endodontic Journal, 54(8), 1221–1245. https://doi.org/10.1111/iej.13508
Kumar, P. V., Birru, A. K., Muthu, N., & Kaur, A. (2024). Enhancing sports mouthguards with PLA + and PC: Stress reduction, energy absorption, and topology optimization. Clinical Oral Investigations, 28(11), 606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-024-05997-5
Lima, T. C. da S., Coste, S. C., Fernandes, M. I. A. P., Barbato-Ferreira, D. A., Colosimo, E. A., Del Fabbro, M., Ribeiro Sobrinho, A. P., Côrtes, M. I. de S., & Bastos, J. V. (2023). Prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in emergency dental services: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 51(2), 247–255. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdoe.12733
Mordini, L., Lee, P., Lazaro, R., Biagi, R., & Giannetti, L. (2021). Sport and Dental Traumatology: Surgical Solutions and Prevention. Dentistry Journal, 9(3), 33. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj9030033
Nosowicz, K., Różak, P., Draguła, M., Musielińska, M., Malicka, P., & Wójcik, J. (2026). The Impact of Sports Participation on Oral Health: A Comprehensive Review. Quality in Sport, 52, 69458–69458. https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.52.69458
Oliveira Werlich, M., Honnef, L. R., Silva Bett, J. V., Domingos, F. L., Pauletto, P., Dulcineia Mendes de Souza, B., Mageste Duque, T., Curi Hallal, A. L., & De Luca Canto, G. (2020). Prevalence of dentofacial injuries in contact sports players: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dental Traumatology: Official Publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology, 36(5), 477–488. https://doi.org/10.1111/edt.12556
Present status and future directions: Endodontic management of traumatic injuries to permanent teeth—Krastl—2022—International Endodontic Journal—Wiley Online Library. (n.d.). Retrieved 11 October 2026, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/iej.13672
Roberts, H. W. (2023). Sports mouthguard overview: Materials, fabrication techniques, existing standards, and future research needs. Dental Traumatology: Official Publication of International Association for Dental Traumatology, 39(2), 101–108. https://doi.org/10.1111/edt.12809
Rusiecka, A., Górniak, A., Widawski, M., Sobczyk, A., Kubas, A., Gizińska, N., & Lewandowska, P. (2025). The Improving Injury Prevention in Sports in the Jaw and Maxillary Area: A Comprehensive Overview of Mouthguards and Their Effectiveness. Quality in Sport, 42, 60511–60511. https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2025.42.60511
Tysiąc-Miśta, M., Tanasiewicz, M., Amini, S., Najary, S., Baghani, M. T., Eftekhar Ashtiani, R., Shidfar, S., & Nasiri, M. J. (2025). Traumatic Dental Injuries’ Prevalence across Diverse Healthcare Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Archives of Academic Emergency Medicine, 13(1), e11. https://doi.org/10.22037/aaem.v13i1.2432
Wang, K., Liu, Y., Zhao, Z., Zhou, S., & Zhang, M. (2025). Mouthguard types, properties and influence on performance in sport activities: A narrative review. Frontiers in Medicine, 12, 1527621. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2025.1527621
Wojda, M., & Wielgosz, A. (2024). Dental Injuries in Sports: Analysis, Prevention, and Protection. Quality in Sport, 20, 53986–53986. https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2024.20.53986
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Aleksandra Bernaś, Jakub Adam Maciaszczyk, Maja Warchoł, Robert Durski, Adrian Piotr Kobus, Maria Magdalena Dzieniakowska, Julia Paulina Piecyk, Norbert Kobus, Adam Surma, Maja Podziewska
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 24
Number of citations: 0
