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Recently, wearing a mouthguard (MG) has become mandatory in contact sports. A properly fitted MG protects against sports injuries to the stomatognathic system, and stabilized the occlusal position, which might leads to improved sports performance. The present study uses a questionnaire to determine the amount of dental knowledge and motivation to wear a MG among dental college students. The current situation regarding MG use, discomfort, and experience of oral trauma and concussion was evaluated in 175 rugby football players, 63 American football players, 62 skiers, 55 karate, 27 Shorinji kempo and 32 Nippon kempo athletes who participate d in the Annual Athletic Meet for All Japanese Dental Students (414 participants). The results of the questionnaire about MG use indicated that almost all players experienced discomfort. Dental trauma was experienced in 90% and 43% of rugby football payers and karate athletes, respectively. The rates were lowest among American football players, Shorinji kempo athletes and skiers, being 5.8%, 7.4%, 12.9%, respectively. Concussion was experienced by > 36% of rugby football players and 25% of Nippon kempo athletes. Nippon kempo athletes may use a MG to protect against concussion. In conclusion, rules requiring players to wear a MG should be enforced or rules should be changed to make wearing a MG compulsory, awareness of dental students should be improved, injury should be prevented by wearing a MG and not only organizations but individual players should be educated about the necessity of wearing a MG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is the sensation of discomfort or pain in the muscles that occurs follow in g unaccustomed muscular exertion. This study investigated the effects of Aquatitan tape (AT tape) on DOMS of the masseter and skeletal muscles after weight-training while wearing a custom-made mouthguard. In this study, 52 right-handed participants applied AT tape on the places they felt pain or fatigue after weight-training, including the masseter, forearm, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, and triceps surae muscles. Their muscle pain and discomfort associated with various actions, and the usability of AT tape, were then evaluated. Of the participants, about 50% put AT tape on the masseter, biceps brachii, and triceps brachii muscles. When AT tape was put on the left, non-dominant side, the muscle pain was significantly smaller than when the tape was placed on the right side. About 40% of the participants answered that AT tape improved their symptoms, and about 60% answered that they wanted to use AT tape again. Our findings suggest that AT tape has the potential to reduce muscle pain on the non-dominant side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]