When children are involved in sports, it is crucial that they wear a mouthguard, (whether or not the team requires it!). Each year there are millions of children who suffer injuries to their teeth or face because they weren’t wearing the proper protection. Mouthguards are fairly inexpensive and can be found at sporting goods stores and pharmacies. There are mouthguards that are called “Boil and Bite” mouthguards. These are boiled at home and bitten when warm, and they fit to the teeth. These may be slightly more comfortable than the
traditional style of mouthguard. Your child’s dentist or orthodontist could also make a custom fitted mouthguard by taking an impression of the mouth. These are actually quite comfortable, inexpensive and quite popular with children and teens. Patients with braces, however, must wear an orthodontic mouthguard. The custom fabricated guards or boil and bite guards are not appropriate for orthodontic patients, as their teeth are constantly moving. Your child’s orthodontist will usually supply the appropriate type of guard for your child’s needs.
When athletes who wear braces get hit in the mouth when not wearing a mouthguard, severe lacerations of the inside of cheeks and lips can occur. These injuries are quite painful from which to recover and completely avoidable with the use of a mouthguard. Cheerleaders without mouthguards tend to have a large occurrence of injuries like this when falls occur.
People don’t realize that mouthguards not only protect the teeth from impact and damage from baseballs, baseball bats, or being kicked in the mouth, but they also serve to prevent concussions of the brain. Mouthguards can help to reduce the effect of the impact of a collision or blow to the face or jaw. Concussions are too frequent with sports such as football and hockey, and should be prevented with whatever means possible.
Keep in mind that a mouthguard is one of the most important parts of your child’s uniform, and a very inexpensive way to protect your child from serious injury. Even if their coach doesn’t require them to be worn, parents should. Go to http://www.vanguarddentalgroup.com/nh-dental-services/orthodontic-dentistry.php to learn more about mouthguards and the orthodontic services we offer at Vanguard Dental Group!
