Does the use of sports mouthguards influence salivary parameters and oral health indices? A systematic review.

Aim: To investigate whether the use of sports mouthguards (SMG) influences salivary parameters and oral health indices.

Methods: Electronic searches were conducted across six major databases and two sources of gray literature in July 2024, with no restrictions on language or publication date. Interventional studies assessing oral parameters in participants with and without SMG were included. Risk of bias (ROB) was evaluated using the NIH-NHLBI Quality Assessment Tools for before-and-after studies. Descriptive synthesis was performed, and the certainty of evidence was assessed with the GRADE approach.

Results: Four studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing a total of 202 male and female athletes aged 8 to 24 years. ROB ratings were classified as fair in three studies (75%) and poor in one study (25%). Evaluated salivary parameters included pH, stimulated and unstimulated flow rates, microbial count, saliva consistency, and buffering capacity. Additionally, oral indices such as full mouth plaque and bleeding scores were assessed. The studies demonstrated high heterogeneity in collection and analysis methods, outcome evaluation, and follow-up duration. Overall, the influence of SMG use on salivary pH (n = 4; 100%) and stimulated flow rate (n = 2; 100%) was inconclusive. SMG use did not affect microbial count (n = 2; 100%) or saliva consistency (n = 1; 100%) but was associated with a decrease in buffering capacity (n = 1; 100%). An increase was noted in unstimulated flow rate (n = 1; 100%) and oral indices (n = 1; 100%) with SMG use. The certainty of the evidence was rated as very low for all evaluated parameters.

Conclusion: SMG use appears to impact saliva's buffering capacity but does not influence its consistency or microbial count. Despite the limited literature and methodological limitations of existing studies, this systematic review provides insights that could inform the design of more rigorous primary research, ultimately strengthening the evidence base on this topic.