Delta Dental of Tennessee Helps Protect Youth Football Players

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to help protect the teeth and health of Tennessee's young athletes, Delta Dental of Tennessee donated 14,650 mouth guards to youth football players across the state.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091103/DE04384 )

The mouth guards have been distributed in conjunction with USA Football's Tennessee branch and the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl Youth Football Program. Delta Dental is an official sponsor of the Youth Football Program.

"Athletes aren't fully suited up unless they have their mouth guard in place," said Dr. Phil Wenk, D.D.S., president and CEO of Delta Dental of Tennessee. "Mouth guards prevent injuries to the mouth and teeth, and can protect against concussions."

Studies have linked sporting activities to nearly one-third( )of all dental injuries, and approximately one in six( )sports-related injuries is orofacial. Mouth guards, which serve as shock absorbers, can significantly reduce this number. Without them, athletes are 60 times more likely to damage or lose teeth, according to the American Dental Association (ADA).

Before athletic associations required football players to wear mouth guards, injuries to the face and mouth accounted for 50 percent of all injuries. Since adopting the requirement in the 1960s, the number has dropped to 0.5 percent. However, even in football, a sport requiring protective gear, only about 75 percent of the athletes wear their mouth guard.

Delta Dental provided "boil-and-bite" mouth guards, which are boiled in hot water and molded to the individual's mouth. Athletes can also purchase stock mouth guards, which come in a pre-formed shape, or order custom-made mouth guards from their dentist.

"As coaches, our job is not only to improve the players' skills, but also to establish important safety habits early," said Ron Word, president of the Mid-State Youth Football League and USA Football Event Coordinator. "By wearing a mouth guard, players are shielded from potentially severe injuries. We really appreciate what Delta Dental has done to help kids protect their mouths."

Scott Ramsey, president and CEO of Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl said: "We are excited to have the support of Delta Dental of Tennessee as a sponsor of the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl and look forward to partnering with them by providing mouth guards and promoting proper dental care to our Youth Football Program participants."

Delta Dental first distributed mouth guards three years ago when it joined with the Nashville Predators for the "Protect Your Fangs" campaign. Since the program's inception, more than 25,000 mouth guards have been distributed to youth statewide. For more information on mouth guards and oral health, visit www.deltadentaltn.com/OralHealth/Mouthguards.asp.

About the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
The Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl (501 (c)3 non-profit organization) is an annual post-season collegiate bowl featuring the Atlantic Coast and Southeastern Conferences. Televised nationally to millions of viewers and listeners on ESPN and Nevada Sports Radio Network, the Bowl is Nashville's Holiday Tradition. For more information, call the Bowl office at 615.743.3130 or visit the Bowl online at MusicCityBowl.com.

About USA Football
USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, hosts more than 100 football training events annually offering education for coaches and game officials, skill development for players and resources for youth football league commissioners. The independent non-profit manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competitions and provides $1 million annually in equipment grants and youth league volunteer background check subsidies. USA Football was endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund and is chaired by Carl Peterson.

About Delta Dental of Tennessee
Delta Dental of Tennessee, with its affiliates in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico and Ohio, is one of the largest dental plan administrators in the nation. In 2008, the enterprise paid out nearly $2.1 billion for dental care for more than 6.6 million enrollees. Offices are located in Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis, Tenn.; Indianapolis and Greenwood, Ind.; Louisville, Ky.; Okemos and Farmington Hills, Mich.; Albuquerque, N.M.; and Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio.

Sidebar:
Fit and Finish
Football and hockey players aren't the only athletes who need mouth guard protection. Youth athletes playing what are not traditionally thought of as contact sports are still at risk for mouth injuries. Many experts recommend that a mouth guard be worn for any recreational activity that poses a risk of injury to the mouth.

To provide adequate protection, a mouth guard must fit correctly and be properly maintained. It should cover the teeth and gums with minimal discomfort and should not disrupt the athlete's ability to talk or breathe.

Mouth guards should always be kept clean. They can harbor food particles, bacteria, blood, dirt and other debris which can cause mold to develop. This can be particularly dangerous for athletes with allergies or asthma.

Delta Dental recommends these tips to keep mouth guards clean:

• Brush the mouth guard with a toothbrush and toothpaste after use.
• Soak in denture cleaning solutions for 20 to 30 minutes once per month.
• Freshen up the mouth guard by soaking it overnight in a cup of mouthwash.