Delta Dental offers free mouth guards for young athletes
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Delta Dental of Oklahoma (DDOK) and its foundation are giving away free mouth guards to young athletes in Oklahoma to celebrate National Youth Sports Safety Month.
Officials say the mouth guards come in many different styles and sizes for athletes ranging up to 18 years of age. They are microwaveable and moldable guards that come with or without straps depending on the sport or preference.
Both mouth guards (strap or without) come in two different sizes. Adult sizes range from ages 11 years old and 18 years old. Child sizes range from ages 10 and under.
DDOK will be providing kids with the "Game On" mouth guards which has been approved by the American Dental Association. High-performance impact absorption that fit over braces and have hydrophobic properties which stops the intake of germs and saliva, preventing illnesses.
“Wearing a mouth guard dramatically reduces the risk of several types of injuries, including tooth loss, fractures or chips and soft-tissue damage. It’s critically important we encourage our youth to utilize this effective piece of sports gear to guard their grins,” said Terrisa Singleton, director of the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation.
Singleton hopes that parents and coaches will encourage their athletes to use mouth guards more across all sports to prevent these types of injuries.
According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, athletes who do not wear mouth guards are 60 times more likely to risk and damage their teeth.
More than 3 million teeth are said to be knocked out each year in youth sports.
“Despite being a reliable way to mitigate this risk, mouth guards are not required to play the vast majority of youth sports in Oklahoma. We hope this program helps expand use of mouth guards for all sports, even when they are not a required piece of safety equipment,” says Delta Dental of Oklahoma chairman, president and CEO John Gladden.
The deadline to request the free mouth guards is April 30, 2024, or while supplies last and can expect them to be delivered in June.
Oklahoma parents, coaches and commissioners can submit a request form online.