Mouthguards are a Must for the Young Athletes in Your Family

Mouthguards are critical to protecting your athletic children that are participating in team sports. Student-athletes without protective mouthguards are 60 times more likely to suffer mouth and facial trauma.

The Reasons Why All Young Athletes Should Wear a Mouthguard

Even though child athletes without protective mouthguards are 60 times more likely to suffer mouth and facial trauma, a recent survey found that just 32 percent of youth football players and 11 percent of hockey and lacrosse players wear these guards. Mouthguards help soften an impact to the face that could cause broken, chipped or lost teeth, jaw injuries or cuts to the lip, tongue, or face.

The doctors at Sky Ortho and members of the American Association of Pediatric Dentists recommend custom-made protective mouthguards because the benefits far outweigh any discomfort or inconvenience.

Mouthguards
These young athletes are dressed for soccer practice but something is missing…their mouthguards!

The Benefits of Mouthguards

“Mouthguards for children and teens involved in sports are the best way to avoid physical and financial stress,” Dr. Prisilla Larson of Sky Ortho said. “They protect the teeth as well as the gums, jaw, and jawbones from impact injuries especially common in team sports.”

According to the AAPD, protective mouthguards must be worn for all sports. But the most common causes of dental trauma in any sport is a ball to the mouth or a blow from an opposing player. Football, basketball, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, boxing, and martial arts are the sports where kids and teens most commonly sustain dental injuries. The American Dental Association has found that mouthguards may also reduce the rate and severity of concussions.

Athletic gear
Mouthguard hanging off the helmet of an American football player during a team practice session.

All Mouthguards are Not the Same

There, is a general belief that all mouthguards are the same. However, as the old adage states, you get what you pay for. Typically with mouthguards, the higher the price, the better the design technology and materials.

“Parents need to understand that the cost of repairing even a chipped tooth can be up to 10 times the cost of a higher-end mouthguard,” said Dr. Larson. “Store-bought mouthguards provide little to no protection due to loose or improper fit.”

Contact Sports
Protection is key for all contact sports. It is also a good idea for non-contact sports.

Comfort is a Key Consideration with Mouthguards

Custom mouthguards fit better and therefore are more comfortable than the inexpensive ones. The more comfortable the mouthguard, the more likely your young athlete will be to wear it.

If you cannot afford a custom mouthguard, visit your local sporting goods store and buy a mouth-formed or “boil and bite” guard. These guards provide more protection than a pre-formed generic guard, but less than a custom guard.

Assorted Protective Gear
Protective mouthguards are a good idea for all young athletes.

What You Need to Consider When Buying a Mouthguard

There are a few things to consider when purchasing a mouthguard.

  • Be sure that it is fitted to the young athlete’s teeth. Follow any instructions included with the mouthguard if you are not getting a custom guard.
  • Your athlete must want to wear it. They need to think it looks cool. Most young athletes are less concerned with the protection aspect of the mouthguard than they are with the appearance of it.
Cool Mouthguard
Mouthguards that look cool are more likely to be worn by young athletes.

Custom Mouthguards – as Good for the Kids as they are for the Pros

Custom mouthguards for young athletes are made with the same care and consideration as the custom mouthguards of professional athletes. Mouthguards should fit well, be comfortable, and protect without affecting speech and breathing. These rules apply no matter the age of the athlete or the level of competition.

If your child has trouble with a gag reflex, check to ensure the mouthguard fits well. The more a mouthguard moves in the mouth, the more likely it is to create a gag reflex. The proper fit takes into consideration that the mouthguard does not extend too far onto the palate (roof of the mouth) or extend past the last tooth.

Mouthguards
Start early teaching your child to protect his or her smile when playing sports.

The Sports with the Highest Incidence of Facial Trauma – Not What You Think

“Orofacial trauma is highest in athletes ages 8 to 14. Plus, it most often occurs in basketball and soccer,” Dr. Larson said. “If your child wears or has worn braces in OKC or a retainer, it is even more necessary to have a quality mouthguard. All too often, parents and kids go through the time and expense of orthodontic treatment. But after getting the perfect smile, it is ruined by injuries that could be prevented with a custom mouthguard.”

Wait until orthodontic treatment is complete to go to custom mouthguards to ensure the fit will stay because the bite will continue to change until treatment is completed making it difficult to get a good fit from a custom mouthguard. To learn more about custom mouthguards, schedule a consultation with Dr. Larson or Dr. Fitzgerald by calling the office in Moore at (405) 378-4774 or Shawnee at (405) 275-3800. Or, request an appointment online.