One of the questions we get asked regularly is, “Should my child wear a sports mouthguard?” We recommend all children wear a mouthguard if they are involved in any sport or activity where they can come in contact with other players or hard surfaces.
A mouthguard is a protective device for the mouth that is worn during athletic and recreational activities. It covers the teeth and gums protecting them from injury. And also acts as a barrier between the teeth and cheeks, which lowers the risk of soft tissue damage.
Safety is a super important part of oral health. We often think of only football players wearing mouth guards, but injuries can happen in any contact sport like soccer, basketball, baseball and even riding bicycles. Injuries happen when a child collides with another player or ball or falls and hits a hard surface. These injuries can vary from breaking or knocking out teeth to soft tissue injuries to the tongue, lips and cheeks, and can require emergency dental care.
A properly fitted mouthguard may be especially important for children who wear braces. A blow to the face could cause damage to the brackets and other fixed orthodontic appliances.
As always, we’re here to help you. If you have any questions about how to choose the right mouthguard for your child, just ask us and we’ll be happy to help.
We offer FREE mouthguards for all local youth sports programs Stop by the office today to get yours!
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