Kids Mouthguards for Children Who Play Sports

Kids mouth guards help to protect teeth when the young ones are engaged in sports. Children are filled with endless amounts of restless energy, and sports provide them with a productive way to channel that energy. They get to learn about teamwork, sportsmanship, and discipline while having lots of fun.

However, some sports involve physical contact, and accidents do happen. Kids mouthguards protect children from trauma to the face by softening the impact. They reduce the chances of a tooth being broken or knocked out of its socket due to hard contact with the face.

How kids mouthguards protect teeth

Mouthguards work by cushioning any blows to the wearer’s teeth. They reduce the risk of lacerating soft tissues like the cheek, tongue, or lips, and damage to teeth. The Center for Disease Control estimates that about three million teeth get knocked out of children's mouths during youth sporting events each year.

A mouthguard can help to prevent your child from suffering the same fate. The popular types of mouthguards a child can use for sports include:

• Stock mouthguards: These are the least effective and cheapest type of mouthguard. They rarely fit well, and they often restrict breathing. These appliances are available at most grocery or sports stores. These types of mouthguards should only be used for sports that involve very little contact
• Boil and bite mouthguards: These are typically made from rubber composites. Like the name infers, these should be boiled before being used so the malleable material can be molded to fit the child’s teeth. The mouthguard is prepared for use by biting down on it after heating it. The appliances are available at many sports stores, and they provide adequate protection for contact sports like basketball or wrestling
• Custom mouthguards: These are the priciest type of mouthguard, but they are also the most effective. They can be made from a wide range of materials, and they are designed specifically for the child. These types of mouthguards can be purchased from a dentist. The appliance is made from an impression of the child’s teeth that is sent to a lab. The mouth guard should fit snuggly when worn, and it provides your child with the highest level of protection.

Proper gear is often mandatory

The American Dental Association advises wearing custom mouthguards for sports like racquetball, martial arts, ice hockey, field hockey, lacrosse, boxing, basketball, wrestling, water polo, soccer, skiing, skateboarding, and rugby.

In many cases, schools and sports camps will require your child to have proper mouth protection to participate in these activities. It can take up to two weeks for a custom mouth guard to be made so plan ahead.

Give your child the best protection for teeth

A good mouthguard will protect your child's teeth without making it harder for them to breathe. The importance of the latter should not be overlooked since not being able to breathe properly will diminish your child’s athletic performance. Give us a call or visit our Richmond with your child to get a custom mouthguard made.

Request an appointment here: https://www.grandparkwaypediatricdental.com or call Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental at (832) 579-0960 for an appointment in our Richmond office.

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