Delta Dental of Tennessee Helps Protect Youth Football Players

More than 14,000 mouth guards donated to athletes statewide

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to help protect the teeth
and health of Tennessee's young athletes, Delta Dental of Tennessee donated
14,650 mouth guards to youth football players across the state.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091103/DE04384 )

The mouth guards have been distributed in conjunction with USA Football's
Tennessee branch and the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl Youth Football
Program. Delta Dental is an official sponsor of the Youth Football Program.

"Athletes aren't fully suited up unless they have their mouth guard in place,"
said Dr. Phil Wenk, D.D.S., president and CEO of Delta Dental of Tennessee.
"Mouth guards prevent injuries to the mouth and teeth, and can protect against
concussions."

Studies have linked sporting activities to nearly one-third( )of all dental
injuries, and approximately one in six( )sports-related injuries is orofacial.
Mouth guards, which serve as shock absorbers, can significantly reduce this
number. Without them, athletes are 60 times more likely to damage or lose
teeth, according to the American Dental Association (ADA).

Before athletic associations required football players to wear mouth guards,
injuries to the face and mouth accounted for 50 percent of all injuries. Since
adopting the requirement in the 1960s, the number has dropped to 0.5 percent.
However, even in football, a sport requiring protective gear, only about 75
percent of the athletes wear their mouth guard.

Delta Dental provided "boil-and-bite" mouth guards, which are boiled in hot
water and molded to the individual's mouth. Athletes can also purchase stock
mouth guards, which come in a pre-formed shape, or order custom-made mouth
guards from their dentist.

"As coaches, our job is not only to improve the players' skills, but also to
establish important safety habits early," said Ron Word, president of the
Mid-State Youth Football League and USA Football Event Coordinator. "By
wearing a mouth guard, players are shielded from potentially severe injuries.
We really appreciate what Delta Dental has done to help kids protect their
mouths."

Scott Ramsey, president and CEO of Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl said: "We
are excited to have the support of Delta Dental of Tennessee as a sponsor of
the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl and look forward to partnering with them by
providing mouth guards and promoting proper dental care to our Youth Football
Program participants."

Delta Dental first distributed mouth guards three years ago when it joined
with the Nashville Predators for the "Protect Your Fangs" campaign. Since the
program's inception, more than 25,000 mouth guards have been distributed to
youth statewide. For more information on mouth guards and oral health, visit
www.deltadentaltn.com/OralHealth/Mouthguards.asp.

About the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
The Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl (501 (c)3 non-profit organization) is an
annual post-season collegiate bowl featuring the Atlantic Coast and
Southeastern Conferences. Televised nationally to millions of viewers and
listeners on ESPN and Nevada Sports Radio Network, the Bowl is Nashville's
Holiday Tradition. For more information, call the Bowl office at 615.743.3130
or visit the Bowl online at MusicCityBowl.com.

About USA Football
USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels,
hosts more than 100 football training events annually offering education for
coaches and game officials, skill development for players and resources for
youth football league commissioners. The independent non-profit manages U.S.
national teams within the sport for international competitions and provides $1
million annually in equipment grants and youth league volunteer background
check subsidies. USA Football was endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002 through
the NFL Youth Football Fund and is chaired by Carl Peterson.

About Delta Dental of Tennessee
Delta Dental of Tennessee, with its affiliates in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan,
New Mexico and Ohio, is one of the largest dental plan administrators in the
nation. In 2008, the enterprise paid out nearly $2.1 billion for dental care
for more than 6.6 million enrollees. Offices are located in Nashville,
Knoxville and Memphis, Tenn.; Indianapolis and Greenwood, Ind.; Louisville,
Ky.; Okemos and Farmington Hills, Mich.; Albuquerque, N.M.; and Columbus and
Cleveland, Ohio.

Sidebar:
Fit and Finish
Football and hockey players aren't the only athletes who need mouth guard
protection. Youth athletes playing what are not traditionally thought of as
contact sports are still at risk for mouth injuries. Many experts recommend
that a mouth guard be worn for any recreational activity that poses a risk of
injury to the mouth.

To provide adequate protection, a mouth guard must fit correctly and be
properly maintained. It should cover the teeth and gums with minimal
discomfort and should not disrupt the athlete's ability to talk or breathe.

Mouth guards should always be kept clean. They can harbor food particles,
bacteria, blood, dirt and other debris which can cause mold to develop. This
can be particularly dangerous for athletes with allergies or asthma.

Delta Dental recommends these tips to keep mouth guards clean:
-- Brush the mouth guard with a toothbrush and toothpaste after use.
-- Soak in denture cleaning solutions for 20 to 30 minutes once per
month.

-- Freshen up the mouth guard by soaking it overnight in a cup of
mouthwash.

SOURCE Delta Dental of Tennessee

Kim Schutte of Delta Dental of Tennessee, +1-615-255-3175 ext. 261,
kschutte@deltadentaltn.com