Planning to play sports this summer? Worried about damaging your teeth or braces? There is a simple solution — wear a mouthguard!
The Center for Pediatric Dental Health recommends you wear a mouthguard during any activity that could lead to contact with your mouth, including baseball, soccer, lacrosse, football, and other sports involving flying objects.
Where do you get mouthguards for kids’ sports? A boil-and-bite mouthguard can be found at most major retailers and pharmacies. They’re called “boil and bite” because you dip them in boiling water to soften them, then bite to mold them.
They can be molded easily around braces and protect them. They can also be boiled and adjusted later as the teeth move in the braces. The mouthguard needs to fit tightly around the teeth to protect properly.
Preventing Sports Dental Injuries in Kids
After age 6, permanent teeth start coming in. It’s easy to damage them during sports, so it’s best to protect them with a mouthguard. Here are a few facts about sports dental injuries in kids.
- Between 13-39% of all dental injuries in kids are sports-related.
- Up to half of all kids who participate in sports could sustain dental injuries.
- Only four sports (field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, and football) require mouthguards at the high school level, leaving most kids vulnerable to tooth injuries in sports.
- Basketball has the highest rate of dental injuries in kids.
A mouthguard could protect them.
Which Sports Put Kids’ Teeth at Risk?
The American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for more than 20 sports, including basketball, soccer, gymnastics, baseball, softball, volleyball, skateboarding, and martial arts.
The highest rate of dental injuries is in basketball, even though it’s not a traditional “contact” sport. In other words, if your child is active in sports, they should wear a mouthguard, even if it isn’t required for that sport.
Types of Mouthguards
There are three main types of mouthguards.
- Boil and bite — Customizable by softening in hot water and biting into them to mold around the teeth. They can also be heated and remolded at least a couple of times. Widely available at sporting goods stores, major retailers, and pharmacies. Look for the ADA seal of acceptance.
- Stock mouthguard — preformed, cheapest, but the worst fit. Offers minimal protection and are hard to breathe in. Not recommended.
- Custom mouthguard — Most expensive, made from a dental impression of your child’s teeth so they offer the best fit and protection, significantly more protective than the other two options.
Caring for Your Mouthguard
Here are a few tips for caring for your mouthguard.
- Rinse it before and after every use.
- Keep it in a vented storage container when not using it.
- Keep it out of reach of children and pets who could damage it.
- Keep it out of a hot car.
- Don’t put it in the dishwasher.
- Clean it with cool, soapy water (hot water may warp the shape).
- Bring it to dental appointments to check the fit and shape.
- Replace it when your child’s teeth change (new permanent teeth emerge, your child gets braces), or when it appears to be damaged or worn.
Taking good care of your mouthguard will allow it to last the entire year of sports and not make you ill by keeping it germ-free.
FAQs About Mouthguards
Does my child need a mouthguard for sports?
If there is a risk of your child falling, colliding, or making contact with flying objects (including balls, pucks, and other players’ body parts — elbows, heads, etc.), then yes, your child should wear a mouthguard.
Can my teen wear a mouthguard with braces?
Absolutely! We highly recommend they protect their teeth and braces with a mouthguard. A boil-and-bite might be better for kids with braces, as they can be adjusted later and a custom one can’t. Your child’s teeth will shift in the braces, making the mouthguard fit less well.
What’s the best mouthguard for kids?
A custom mouthguard is best, unless they wear braces or clear aligners. These can cause teeth to shift, which may mean the custom mouthguard fits less and less precisely over time. But if your child isn’t undergoing orthodontic treatment, a custom mouthguard should last your child the entire year.
Pediatric Dental Care in Sicklerville, NJ
If your child gets a dental injury in sports in Sicklerville, NJ, Mount Laurel, NJ, or Woolrich Township, NJ, schedule an appointment with The Center for Pediatric Dental Health. We can take care of your child’s dental emergency.
