[Do mouthguards improve performance in sports?]

Abstract

Although mouth guards are traditionally used to prevent oral injury in contact sports, recent studies suggest that they can also contribute to improved performance in terms of strength, aerobic and anaerobic performance, agility, balance and flexibility. This improved performance is thought to be achieved by changes in the position of the temporomandibular joint, increasing the vertical dimension of the occlusion and the occurrence of the concurrent activation potentiation phenomenon as a result of jaw clenching. Based on the available literature, it can be concluded that custom-made mouth guards result in better performance in sports than boil-and-bite or standard mouth guards. In general, they will not negatively affect sports performance. Although it is not readily possible to predict whether and to what extent wearing a mouthguard will have a positive effect on individual athletes, athletes and coaches should be encouraged to consider the use of mouthguards not only from the perspective of safety, but also from the perspective of their potential performance-enhancing value.