Mouthguard use and awareness among athletes in Turkey: a cross-sectional study with multivariable analysis

This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to examine mouthguard use and awareness during sporting activities.

A 30-question demographic survey, developed by researchers, was administered to 411 athletes aged 18 and older who are actively involved in various sports across Turkey. The surveys included demographic information, mouthguard use, knowledge, and awareness. Age mean of mouthguard users was 22.97 ± 3.19, and age mean of non-users were 22.80 ± 4.12. Among the women, 11.6% sometimes and 8.0% always used mouthguard; among the men, 9.1% sometimes and 7.0% always used mouthguard.

Mouthguard use did not differ significantly based on gender, tooth brushing frequency, duration of sports activity, license status, or license type (p > 0.05). However, mouthguard use was statistically significantly higher among those who visited the dentist more frequently, those who practiced combat sports and boxing, those who exercised more frequently on weekdays, those who had general knowledge about mouthguards, and those who were aware of their benefits (p < 0.05). Mouthguard usage was significantly correlated with dentistry visit frequency (r = 0.214; p < 0.01), sport frequency (r = 0.244; p < 0.01), license (r = 0.111; p < 0.05), mouthguard general knowledge (r = 0.364; p < 0.01) and mouthguard benefits knowledge (r = 0.454; p < 0.01). Effects of sport frequency (B = 0.496; p < 0.01) and mouthguard benefit knowledge (B = 2.240; p < 0.01) on mouthguard usage (mouthguard benefit knowledge, OR = 9.396) were statistically significant.

Although the majority of participants participated in sports involving collisions and those with a high risk of oral trauma, mouthguard use and awareness were quite low. Public health and clinical dentistry fields must work together to increase mouthguard knowledge.