Mouthguards and Talking: Why it Matters, Mouthguard Features

For many athletes, whether we're talking professionals or amateurs of any kind, communication while at play is very important. Teammates often need to communicate with one another quickly and efficiently as they compete, and having a mouthguard that allows this to be possible is extremely important in many situations. 

At Damage Control Mouthguards, we offer a wide range of options to assist you here, including custom mouthguards that are molded directly to the contours of your mouth to allow for comfort and quality protection simultaneously. The form of communication that's most common across all team sports today is talking -- if this is an important theme to you when purchasing a mouthguard, what should you be thinking about? This two-part blog series will investigate.

Why Speech is Important to Many Athletes

Firstly, let's spend a moment discussing why speech is so important to athletes during play. Different sports will have different reasons for this, but in general, being able to communicate with teammates while playing is seen as a major asset by most people.

For example, in basketball, quick and efficient communication between players can be the difference between a fast break and allowing the opposing team to reset their defense. Players need to be able to communicate who has the ball, where they're going, and what the play is -- all while sprinting up and down the court. This can be difficult to do without being able to talk to one another easily.

In football, on the other hand, quick and consistent communication is key in order to make sure everyone is on the same page and knows what's happening. Because the game moves so quickly, and there are so many people on the field, it can be easy for things to get confusing -- but if everyone is communicating well, it can help prevent this from happening.

Talking and Breathing

Another reason why the ability to talk during activity is so important is its connection to another vital function: breathing. For any athlete, being able to breathe properly is key to maintaining peak performance levels, and if a mouthguard is inhibiting this in any way, it can be a major problem.

In many cases, athletes need to be able to take quick, deep breaths in order to perform at their best. This means that a mouthguard that is too bulky or cumbersome can be a real hindrance, as it can make it difficult to take in enough air.

Features to Avoid

While part two of our series will dig into what to look for in a mouthguard if you're looking for one that won't inhibit your speech, it's also important to know what features you should avoid.

The first is anything that covers too much of your mouth or teeth -- this can make it difficult to move your tongue and lips in the way necessary for proper speech. In addition, you'll want to avoid any mouthguards that are excessively thick or bulky, as this can make it difficult to take deep breaths.

Finally, you'll want to stay away from anything that is overly stiff or rigid. This can again impede your ability to speak, as well as making it difficult to take deep breaths.

In the next installment of this series, we'll discuss what you should look for in a mouthguard if you're looking for one that won't inhibit your speech. Stay tuned!

For more on this, or to learn about any of our mouthguards or related services, speak to the staff at Damage Control Mouthguards today.