Influence of mouthguards on athletic balance: A scoping review

Balance is essential for athletic performance, contributing to power generation, control, and precision while reducing risk of experiencing an injury. In dental sports medicine, there is ongoing debate regarding whether mouthguard use influences balance by means of affecting jaw alignment and postural stability.

This scoping review examined peer-reviewed studies assessing the effects of mouthguards on balance in athletes. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted. Studies were selected on the basis of predefined eligibility criteria, and 2 independent reviewers screened articles and extracted relevant data. The qualitative analysis focused on balance-related outcomes, including postural stability, muscle activation, and response times.

A total of 23 studies were analyzed. Five studies reported statistically significant improvements in balance, postural control, and muscle symmetry, particularly with custom-made mouthguards. Another 5 studies observed positive but not statistically significant effects. Thirteen studies found no impact on dynamic balance or other performance measures. The variation in results may be attributed to differences in study methodologies, athlete populations, and mouthguard designs.

On the basis of the available limited evidence, it cannot be conclusively stated that custom-made mouthguards influence balance and performance in sports requiring precision movements, such as gymnastics, weightlifting, basketball, and football. Standardized methodologies and sport-specific trials are needed to further investigate the mechanisms underlying these effects.