Mouth and teeth sports injuries are common among children and can lead to lasting dental problems without proper protection. These injuries can range from chipped teeth to more serious issues like tooth displacement or jaw fractures, affecting your child’s ability to eat, speak clearly, and feel confident in their smile.
A properly fitted mouthguard can prevent many of these injuries, saving your child from pain and you from expensive dental procedures. At Open Bright Pediatric Dentistry, we believe prevention is key to maintaining your child’s beautiful smile for years to come. Dr. Laurie creates custom-fitted mouthguards that provide superior protection compared to store-bought options, ensuring maximum comfort while allowing normal breathing during activities.
Understanding Dental Sports Injuries
When children participate in sports—whether contact sports like football and hockey or non-contact activities like gymnastics and skateboarding—they risk dental injuries. Athletes who don’t use mouthguards are 60 times more likely to get dental injuries than those who wear them. These injuries range from minor chips to more serious trauma.
Common sports-related dental injuries include:
- Chipped or fractured teeth
- Completely knocked-out teeth
- Partially dislodged teeth
- Fractured roots
- Damage to dental restorations
- Soft tissue injuries to the lips, cheeks, and tongue
- Jaw fractures
Beyond the immediate pain and potential emergency treatment, dental injuries may lead to long-term complications, including infection, nerve damage, and the need for future dental work. For growing children, these injuries may affect how their adult teeth develop and emerge.
How Mouthguards Protect Your Child
Mouthguards work by absorbing and distributing the force of impacts that might otherwise be concentrated on a few teeth. They create a protective barrier between your child’s teeth and soft tissues, preventing direct contact during collisions.
A quality mouthguard provides multiple benefits:
- Creates a cushion that absorbs shock during impacts
- Prevents upper and lower teeth from making violent contact
- Protects soft tissues from being cut by teeth during impacts
- Helps prevent jaw fractures and joint injuries
- Reduces the risk and severity of concussions by absorbing impact
- Gives children confidence knowing their smile is protected
Properly fitted mouthguards can prevent approximately 200,000 oral injuries in youth sports annually. This simple protective device can make a significant difference in your child’s dental health and sports experience.
Choosing the Right Mouthguard for Your Child
Not all mouthguards offer the same level of protection. There are three main types to consider:
Stock Mouthguards
These pre-formed protectors come ready to wear and are available at most sporting goods stores. While they’re the most affordable option, they provide the least protection and comfort because they aren’t customized to your child’s mouth.
Limitations include:
- Limited sizes (usually just small, medium, and large)
- Often bulky and uncomfortable
- May interfere with speaking and breathing
- Provide minimal protection compared to other options
- Require keeping the mouth closed to stay in place
Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards
These thermoplastic guards soften in hot water, allowing your child to bite down and create a somewhat customized fit. They’re widely available at sporting goods stores.
Benefits include:
- Better fit and more comfort than stock mouthguards
- More reasonable cost than custom options
- No dental appointment required
- Better protection than stock guards
Custom-Made Mouthguards
Created by dental professionals using impressions of your child’s teeth, custom mouthguards provide the highest level of protection, comfort, and fit. While they require a dental visit and represent a higher initial investment, they offer superior benefits:
- Precise fit to your child’s specific dental anatomy
- Thinner design that allows for normal speech and breathing
- Stays firmly in place during activity
- Most comfortable option for extended wear
- Superior protection against impacts
- Longer-lasting durability
For children with braces or other dental appliances, custom mouthguards are particularly important as they can be designed to accommodate these devices while still providing full protection.
When Should Your Child Wear a Mouthguard?
While some sports leagues and schools mandate mouthguards for certain activities, many don’t—despite recommendations from dental professionals. The American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for a wide range of sports and activities, including:
- Football, hockey, and lacrosse
- Basketball, soccer, and volleyball
- Wrestling and martial arts
- Baseball and softball
- Skateboarding and biking
- Gymnastics and cheerleading
A good rule of thumb: if there’s a possibility of contact with other players, hard surfaces, or equipment, a mouthguard is advisable. Remember that even non-contact sports carry risks of falls or collisions that could damage teeth.
Caring for Your Child’s Mouthguard
Proper care extends the life of a mouthguard and keeps it hygienic. Teach your child to:
- Rinse the mouthguard with cool water before and after each use
- Regularly wash with mild soap and a toothbrush
- Store it in a ventilated container when not in use
- Keep it away from hot water and surfaces that might warp it
- Bring it to dental appointments for professional cleaning and evaluation
- Get a replacement when it shows signs of wear or no longer fits properly
- Never share it with teammates or siblings
Most mouthguards need replacement every season or sooner if your child’s mouth is still growing, or if they have recent dental work or lost teeth.
Trust Open Bright with Your Child’s Sports Safety
Protecting your child’s smile during sports requires the right equipment and professional guidance. At Open Bright, Dr. Laurie provides expert advice on selecting the right mouthguard for your child’s specific needs. With years of experience as a pediatric dental specialist and former director of a residency program, Dr. Laurie understands the unique dental needs of active children and can create custom mouthguards offering superior protection and comfort.
Contact us today at (347) 292-1757 or through our contact form to schedule a consultation for your child’s custom mouthguard.
