The use of customized mouthguards during the training produced protective effects on salivary factors of young...

Custom-made mouthguards have many advantages compared to the stock and ready-made types, but sport treatments with custom made mouthguards involve changes in ecological factors of the oral cavity. In the present study we investigated the potential protective role of salivary factors, such as pH value, volume, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2? (8-iso-PGF2?) levels during training with customised mouthguards.

A total of 80 subjects were selected: 40 athletes, of whom 20 practice volleyball and 20 basketball (test group), and 40 subjects who attend a gym at a non-competitive level (control group). The athletes (test group) were analyzed at baseline (T0), pre-training (T1), post-training with custom-made Ethylene-Vinyl-Acetate (EVA) mouthguards (T2), post-training without mouthguards (T3). The control group was analyzed only at baseline (T0). On each player, in the 4 time points, and on the control group at T0, we stimulated saliva for determining PGE2 and 8-iso-PGF2? levels by radioimmunoassay and pH value by a pH meter and volume/ml. Saliva pH was calculated with a pH meter.

We observed an inhibition of 8-iso-PGF2? salivary release induced by physical exercise and by use of custom-made mouthguard, while we found an increase in PGE2 salivary level in athletes after training and wearing the mouthguard. Furthermore, in the test of the volume of saliva produced in 5 minutes, a significant inhibition of saliva production emerged in the athletes who did not use the mouthguard during sports activities.

Sports activity could lead to a reduction in oxidative stress and the use of mouth guards seems even more effective for athletes.