(PR034) Does Mouthguard Use Impact Power in Athletes? – A Scoping Review

Objective: The AAE Position Statement Update (April 2024) “Use of Mouth Guards to Prevent Injury” recommends “the use of mouth guards during participation in sports as their use may minimize the effect of impact injuries on the dentition and supporting structures”. However, the impact of mouth guard usage on athletic performance, specifically power output, remains underexplored. This scoping review examines the literature - Objective #1: To assess whether mouthguards improve muscle power by aligning the jaw and stabilizing the head and neck. Objective #2: To evaluate the influence of jaw clenching with mouthguards on power and performance during quick-forceful movements. Experimental

Methods: A literature search was conducted across PubMed, SCOPUS, and the Web of Science to identify peer-reviewed studies on the effects of mouthguards on power performance in athletes. Three independent reviewers screened studies for eligibility, and data extraction included sport type, mouthguard design, experimental conditions, and key findings. A qualitative assessment was performed to evaluate study quality.

Results: Thirteen studies were reviewed. Five studies reported significant improvements in power output with custom-made mouthguards, particularly when combined with jaw clenching, in activities like bench press, vertical jump, and sprint performance. Another five studies observed positive but non-significant results, such as enhanced balance and response times, especially in team sports like basketball and football. Three studies found no measurable impact of mouthguard use on power or dynamic performance.

Conclusion: This scoping review suggests that custom-made mouthguards, particularly when worn with jaw clenching, can enhance power output in athletes, especially in sports requiring explosive strength and stability movements.