Custom mouthguards are recommended for the following sports by the American Dental Association: acrobats, basketball, boxing, field hockey, football, gymnastics, handball, ice hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, roller hockey, rugby, shot putting, skateboarding, skiing, skydiving, soccer, squash, and surfing. The mouthguard is used to prevent injuries to teeth and jaws that can occur when players engage in intense contact sports such as football, hockey, and basketball. Mouthguards also protect against other injuries such as cuts from metal blades in rollerblading accidents. A properly fitted mouthguard will reduce the risk of injury to teeth and bones around the face and head. Mouthguards are available in drugstores and sporting goods stores. They usually cost between $10 and $50. Some manufacturers offer different levels of protection, so it's important to find out what type you need before you buy them. In addition to preventing injuries, a mouthguard may help improve your sport by providing better air flow to the brain or reducing the sound of hitting a ball or puck. The benefits of wearing a mouthguard may not be known until later after an athlete has suffered an injury; at that time, he or she may decide to wear one as a preventive measure. Mouthguards are useful for athletes of all ages, but they are particularly important for young people who play contact sports.