Did you know mouth guards save tens of thousands of teeth every year? When it comes to sports, wearing one is part of the uniform. Basketball pro Stephen Curry tends to push his mouth guard out almost every time there’s a break in the game. But one the action starts, it’s back in place.
And for good reason…
Mouth guards actually improve performance. They prevent teeth from clenching which fatigues jaw muscles. They absorb the force of contact and decrease the possibility of teeth getting chipped, broken and lost completely. Knowing they’re protected allows athletes to better focus on the game.
And they’re not just for contact sports. Even non-contact activities – like gymnastics, ice skating and skiing cause falls. When jaws come together, the teeth hit each other and the resulting damage is permanent. Think of a mouth guard as an “airbag” around your teeth. Protecting those ‘pearly whites’ avoids procedures like root canals and implants. Better yet, you’re able to show off your best smile!
A recent study showed that 9% of US adults owe a medical debt of $250 or more. That’s 23 million people! New rules about reporting medical debt are going into effect. 
Healthcare costs vary based on a number of factors. Median out-of-pocket spending on health care ranged from $360 per year in Hawaii to $1,500 per year in Nebraska, according to a 2019 report from The Commonwealth Fund. While some costs are set, such as the premium price for your health plan, others can be planned or negotiated if you know the right questions to ask. 
Uninsured or underinsured people are charged more for their healthcare and typically pay more out of pocket. That’s because they don’t benefit from the reduced rates negotiated by private health insurance companies and public insurers such as Medicare and Medicaid. Additionally, most uninsured people do not receive discounted or free health services. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found that in 2015, only 27% of uninsured adults reported receiving free or reduced-cost care. 
