In recognition of April as Youth Sports Safety Month, Delta Dental of Oklahoma has launched a new, statewide initiative to encourage young children to wear mouthguards while playing sports. The Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation will give away mouthguards to athletes ages 10 and under who participate in organized sports leagues in Oklahoma.

“Youth sports are tremendously beneficial for children, but they do not come without risks to a child’s smile,” said Delta Dental of Oklahoma President and CEO John Gladden. “Mouthguards are an underutilized way to lower the risk of sports injuries, including tooth loss. We hope this pilot program will help Oklahoma coaches foster regular use a mouthguard at an early age, both in practice and during games.”

The free microwaveable, remoldable mouthguards are available for use by youth 10 and under and come in two varieties. One has a strap that can be attached to a helmet, recommended for use in sports such as football and ice hockey. One does not have a strap for use in sports such as basketball, martial arts and soccer.

Oklahoma coaches and league commissioners may submit a request online. The deadline for requests is April 30, 2022, or while supplies last. Orders will be scheduled for delivery in June for summer and fall sports seasons.

More than three million teeth are knocked out each year in youth sports, according to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation. Athletes who do not wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to damage their teeth.

“Mouthguards are a key piece of safety equipment, just like a helmet or shoulder pads,” Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation Director Terrisa Singleton said. “Wearing form-fitted mouthguards not only protects children from damaging and painful injuries, it allows them to feel confident to perform at a higher level. This program aims to help keep kids’ teeth secure and improve their long-term oral health.”

Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation will provide Game On mouthguards, which are the only ADA-accepted mouthguard. Game On mouthguards offers high performance impact absorption, microwaveable mold that fits easily over braces and hydrophobic material that helps prevent illness.

For more information or to register your league/team for mouthguards, visit ddokfoundation.org/mouthguards.

Delta Dental of Oklahoma is the leading provider of dental benefits in the state. Delta Dental of Oklahoma (DDOK) serves more than one million eligible members and nearly 9,500 Oklahoma-headquartered companies. DDOK established its Foundation in 1998 to advance the company’s not-for-profit mission to improve the oral health of all Oklahomans. For more information about Delta Dental of Oklahoma, please visit DeltaDentalOK.org.

Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation is the philanthropic affiliate of Delta Dental of Oklahoma and is the state’s single largest contributor to dental health and education-related projects and initiatives. Our Foundation is funded entirely by proceeds from Delta Dental of Oklahoma. For more information, visit DDOKFoundation.org.

As a not-for-profit dental benefits company, it is the mission of Delta Dental of Oklahoma (DDOK) to improve the oral health of all Oklahomans. DDOK strives to accomplish this mission by: providing quality dental benefits plans to more than one million Oklahomans, and by donating 50 percent of annual contribution to reserves to its Foundation to advance dental education and access to care.