Should My Child Athlete Wear A Mouth Guard?

How A Mouth Guard Can Benefit Child Athletes

How Mouth Guards Work. By filling in the gaps between the teeth, cheeks, and gums, mouth guards work as a shock absorber in the mouth. The mouth guard prevents any impact to the face from damaging the teeth. Mouth guards offer several benefits, including protection of the teeth from damage such as chips, breaks, and being knocked out. Sport guards also protect the lips and tongue from injury resulting in impact against the teeth. Those who do not wear mouth guards are 60 times more likely to suffer tooth damage caused by impact during sports.

Who Benefits Most From Mouth Guards? Child athletes who participate in high-impact sports are the most at risk for suffering an oral injury. Some high-impact sports include football, rugby, wrestling, lacrosse, martial arts, and basketball, however, mouth guards are also recommended for non-contact sports such as baseball. Any sport where an injury can occur due to physical contact with another person or from a high-velocity object striking the mouth area can benefit from the protection of a mouth guard.

Custom Sport Guards. While there are some mouth guards available over the counter at drug stores, a custom sport guard fits better and will stay in the mouth and on the teeth much easier. This is highly beneficial for the child playing the sport, as they will not be preoccupied with the mouth guard slipping around and they are less likely to take it out during their downtime and therefore less likely to lose it. Customized sport guards offer more tooth protection than generic mouth guards, as an ill-fitting mouth guard can also allow damage to the teeth, as the shock absorption qualities are limited when the sizing is not right. Personalized mouth guards are ideal for children and teens since they can be made to accommodate braces, Invisalign®, and other orthodontic appliances. Customized sport guards are especially important if a child has any of these orthodontic appliances since you want to ensure the appliance isn’t getting damaged and that the lips and teeth are safe from any metal or other material that can cause further injury to the lips or cheeks upon impact.

Have A Custom Sport Guard Made At Marlborough Dental In Calgary

Customs sport guards help prevent serious dental issues that cause your child pain and cost lots of money to fix. To get a custom sport guard, visit Marlborough Dental in NE Calgary. Our highly skilled dentists will create a custom mouth guard that perfectly fits your child’s mouth and that offers top-quality children’s dental care, comfort, and impact resistance. Dr. Michael Popp and the team at Marlborough Dental will work with you to determine the optimal dental care for your child and to get them a high-quality custom sports guard. To book an appointment with Marlborough Dental Centre in NE Calgary, either call 1-403-248-2066 or fill out the contact form below.

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between a custom sport guard and a custom night guard?
A: A custom sport guard is to help disperse pressure when the teeth suffer impact during sports, whereas a custom night guard is meant to protect your teeth from grinding together at night. Custom sport guards are much larger and aren’t as tightly fitted to the teeth as custom night guards and therefore shouldn’t be worn to sleep.

Q: How often should my child see the dentist?
A: You should visit the dentist for child dental care every 6 months or twice a year.

Q: Are store-bought mouth guards bad to wear?
A: Any mouth guard is better than none. An over-the-counter mouth guard will help protect your child’s teeth and mouth more than if they didn’t wear one at all, but the protection won’t be as good as a custom sport guard.