You might think of mouthguards as part of a football player’s equipment. However they are increasingly being used in other sports as well. Statistics show that an athlete is 60 times more likely to suffer an injury to their teeth if they are not wearing a mouthguard.
If you are a smart parent, one of the most important requirements you can give your athletic child is to wear a custom mouthguard. Athletic mouthguards are not just for serious athletes or for contact sports only. Sports such as volleyball, basketball and baseball all carry the risk of mouth injury.
Mouthguards buffer a blow or hit to the mouth that might have cracked or broken teeth. It can also protect a child’s lip, tongue or cheek from being punctured or cut as well. In addition, there is a recent nationwide movement for the awareness and prevention of concussion in kids’ sports. Research supports the fact that athletic mouthguards may reduce the rate and severity of sports related concussions in children.
Once you’ve decided to purchase a mouthguard, the next step is determining which kind. You’ll find a wide selection of youth mouthguards at your local sporting goods store. However, it is strongly recommended that you look into a custom mouthguard from your dentist. Group Health Dental helps patients of all ages with athletic mouthguards that are custom fit and professionally molded. A dentist made mouthguard is more comfortable to wear, which is especially important to kids trying to adjust to a new piece of sports equipment and who need to easily communicate to teammates while wearing their mouthguards. The investment you make in a custom mouthguard at your dentist’s office can save your child serious and more costly mouth injuries while on the field.
