Delta Dental Foundation of Oklahoma announces free mouthguard giveaway for youth athletes

Kids love to play sports, and sometimes things can get a little physical, so Delta Dental is hosting a giveaway for kids who want to protect their smile while still making sure they don't miss a day of practice.

According to studies, up to 40% of dental injuries in children happen when they're playing sports. Director of the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation Terissa Singleton explains how this initiative can help prevent those injuries or accidents before they even happen.

"No matter the sport. In football, they're required, but in many sports, like basketball and soccer, even baseball and softball, they're not required," Singleton said. "They're very important to protect those mouths."

Singleton points out the importance of using a mouthguard for any contact sport, which can protect teeth against being chipped or knocked out.

"It is National Youth Sports Safety Month, so in the month of April we'll be giving these away free," she said. "Parents, coaches, schools, anyone can go onto out website, request them and we'll ship them out and get them to them by June in time for sports in the summer and fall."

The costs associated with fixing chipped or missing teeth can be steep according to Singleton, so preventative measures like mouthguards can save families thousands of dollars in medical costs down the line.

"Save a lot of pain, a lot of trauma, and a lot of cost by using these now," Singleton said. "With baby teeth, that's one thing, but with adult teeth in our athletes that are a little bit older, these are available for any student athlete 18 and under across the state."

Apply online to request your student athlete mouthguard at the official Delta Dental Foundation website.