Mouth Protectors in Junior Football Players

This study tested Sta-Guard and Proform mouth protectors that were worn by 280 football players aged 9 to 12 years. Laboratory studies were also conducted to test tensile and tear strength, dynamic modulus and resilience, and hardness. The players received new mouth guards every two weeks for 12 weeks and reported any problems with gagging, taste, speech, feel, and durability. Ninety percent of the boys preferred the Sta-Guard mouth protector, stating that it was softer, more resilient, and more comfortable than the Proform mouth guard.