If you are serious about reducing Concussions "Protect the Jaw"
Why is it we have protective equipment for almost every joint in the body, including knee pads, thigh pads,shoulder pads, hip pads, elbow pads, etc. but the one joint that has direct access to the brain is left unprotected. Upper only mouthguards leave the vital Jaw-Joint complex at risk.
Unless your lower jaw is secured you are at risk of serious injury.
Studies have shown the majority of serious concussions stem from lower jaw impacts. When an upper mouthpiece is coated with saliva the body’s natural lubricant it allows the lower jaw to actually slide easier and the only place the jaw can go upon impact is to the jaw-joint and base of the skull and brain. 
A new category has emerged in sports equipment " Jaw-Joint Protection"
Upper only mouth guards allow the lower jaw to move freely and can not stabilize the jaw, therefore putting the athlete at risk of jaw-joint injury and concussions. The reason this joint is so important to protect is the brain sits directly on top of the joint and is separated from the end of the lower jaw bone by the thinnest bone in the body (the glenoid fosa) which is about the thickness of a potato chip. The bones of the jaw-joint complex house and port cranial nerve trunks as they exit the brain. They also house the main blood supply to the brain and the hearing and balance mechanisms , among others.
We can no longer ignore the existence of the body’s most vital joint…the risk is far too great.
Overwhelming data points to the fact that jaw-joint injuries are occurring at an alarming rate in the sports arena.
Jaw-joint injury, seen in children as young as eight year old, and is one of the hazards uniquely associated with contact sports such as football, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, martial arts and boxing to name a few. The most frequent cause being repeated blows to the head, chin or jaw during aggressive exchanges. In practically all instances the bones of the jaw-joint and base of the skull are damaged. Even in helmeted sports hits to the facemask and helmet are transmitted to the base of the skull via the chin cup. Players are told to pull the chin strap nice and tight to keep the helmet from moving, however when they do they force the jaw bone up into the Jaw-Joint Complex. This is constant pressure in the joint and many players complain of headaches after and during games.
Jaw-Joint Protection reduces the risk of head injuries.
Tests have shown that the
Brain-Pad® Jaw-Joint Protector™ prevents needless head injuries and reduces the risk of impact to the vital jaw-joint structure. The Brain-Pad® Jaw-Joint Protector™ is engineered to create a buffer zone or safety space between the bones of the jaw-joint This is achieved by repositioning the lower jaw into a downward and forward position and securing the upper and lower teeth into the bite surface of the protector. This positioning creates an opening in the protector which facilitates breathing and speech and stabilizes the jaw and jaw-joints during impact
Concussions have frightening consequences that don’t always end when symptoms subside and can last long after playing careers are over.
Please visit www.brainpads.com and view studies and tests
