When To Use a Mouthguard

Does your child play sports? Exercise is very important to our overall health, and playing a sport is a fun and effective way for children and adolescents to get the exercise they need. But while playing sports is good for their health overall, it may present a risk to their oral health if precautions are not taken.

Mouth guards are very effective in protecting a child from sustaining dental injuries. The American Dental Association recommends that a mouth guard be worn when playing sports such as football, basketball, hockey and lacrosse. Injuries of all kinds are commonplace for athletes. Wearing a mouth guard when playing sports may very well avoid the need for a trip to the dental office. There are three varieties of mouth guards to choose from.

Customized Mouth Guards
Available from a dentist, customized mouth guards are custom-fit for an individual. They are more comfortable to wear, but are more expensive than other types of mouth guards.

Boil and Bite Mouth Guards
These mouth guards are semi-customized. The plastic mouth guard is first boiled in water to soften it. Then you bite into the softened plastic to produce a customized fit.

Standard Mouth Guards
The least expensive option, standard mouth guards are basically a one-size-fits-all device. Though effective at preventing injury, they are less comfortable to wear, and may make talking more difficult.

No matter which type of mouth guard is used, wearing one will surely cut down on the likelihood of a serious injury requiring a trip to the dentist. Contact our office for more tips on how to protect the oral health of your child.

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