Exploring the use of mouth guards in Muay Thai: a questionnaire survey

Abstract Objective To identify Muay Thai participants’ attitudes towards use of mouth guards and their experiences of dental trauma. Materials and methods An online cross-sectional survey was used to record Muay Thai participants’ experiences and opinions regarding use of mouth guards. Participants were recruited from a Muay Thai gym in the north east of England. Results 92 respondents took part in the survey. 3% reported having never worn a mouth guard, whereas 61% reported routinely wearing mouth guards during a fight. Significantly more (73%) younger participants (18–29 years) reported wearing mouth guards during fights compared to those aged 30 years and older (50%) (p Conclusion Given the risk for dental trauma in Muay Thai, it is important that participants are advised regarding mouth guard use, particularly those that do not routinely wear them.