Commentary: Mouthguards: Use them or lose them (your teeth) Published Sept. 11, 2015 By Senior Airman Derek Heers 59th Dental Group JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- Imagine what you would look like if you lost some of your front teeth.More importantly, imagine what it would be like to talk and eat without them. Losing your front teeth would make it impossible to pronounce certain words correctly and extremely difficult to bite into your favorite foods. If you play contact sports or engage in activities like bike riding, skateboarding or gymnastics, you should consider wearing a mouthguard to protect your teeth. According to the American Dental Association, athletes are 60 times more likely to suffer harm to the teeth if they're not wearing a mouthguard. Participants in non-contact activities are at a higher risk for dental injury as well.Also called mouth protectors, mouthguards help cushion any impact to your lips, cheeks, tongue, and teeth if you accidentally take a hit to the face. They absorb the shock that would otherwise be suffered by your mouth.It's a simple precaution you can use to reduce the risk of injury, and it is inexpensive. You can purchase sports guards for just a few dollars at your base exchange or any local sporting goods store.If you want to go beyond the basic sports guard, your dentist can make a custom mouthguard for you. A custom mouthguard gives a more precise, comfortable fit, which can provide more protection. While custom mouthguards are more expensive, if you participate in sports or other physical activities frequently, they are highly recommended.The 59th Medical Wing's Dunn Dental Clinic is planning an upcoming event to make free custom mouthguards for members of all services, their dependents and Department of Defense civilian employees. More details - including time, date and location - will be shared as soon as they are available.For more information about mouthguards and other dental health topics, visit www.mouthhealthy.org.