According to Dr. Ala Dean Attar, children should wear mouthguards during contact sports and recreational activities to ensure protection against dental emergencies. When participating in active sports like football or soccer, protecting your child’s teeth is paramount. But they can also provide protection when participating in other sports and activities like martial arts, dance, and more.
Benefits of Mouthguards
A mouthguard is an essential piece of athletic gear that typically covers the upper teeth. It also minimizes the risk of broken teeth and protects the soft tissues of the lips, tongue, and cheek lining against injuries. With studies showing that sports personalities are more susceptible to injuring their teeth when not wearing the gear, Attar Dental advises parents to ensure that children who participate in high-risk sports and activities wear a mouthguard.
Types of Mouthguards
There are three main types of mouthguards. Custom-fitted mouthguards, just as the name suggests, are tailored for the patient and offer the best fit. The dentist will make an impression of your child’s teeth so the dental lab can make a mouthguard that fits their mouth specifically. These are the most expensive type of guard, but they offer the highest level of protection. Stock mouthguards are affordable and ready-to-wear but can make talking and breathing difficult. They do not fit as well as a custom fit one but they are the least expensive option.
Lastly, boil and bite varieties adapt to the shape of the mouth and are available in stores and drugstores. They are a bit more expensive than a stock mouthguard but offer a better fit and more protection as well. The boil-and-bite variety is softened by boiling, then the child bites down on the softened plastic which forms to the shape of their teeth.
A mouthguard that fits properly can help protect braces and other orthodontic appliances from damage. Contact a pediatric Libertyville, IL dentist for advice on mouthguards that offer the best protection and how to handle removable dental appliances
