At Rockland Pediatric Dental & Orthodontics, we know that brushing and flossing aren’t the only healthy habits in your child’s life. Along with eating healthy foods and staying hydrated, physical activity has a huge impact on kids’ health and happiness.
Sports offers lessons in teamwork and problem-solving and boosts self-esteem. But when kids head out to the field or the gym, it can be easy to forget a very important piece of sports gear — a mouthguard!
How can a mouthguard help keep my child’s smile healthy?
Almost a third of dental injuries among children occur during athletic activities. And while sports like football, ice hockey, field hockey, and lacrosse usually require players to wear mouthguards, injuries can be even more common in sports that don’t — think basketball, baseball, skating, and gymnastics.
A mouthguard typically covers the upper teeth and helps to cushion a blow to the face. This protects teeth from being chipped, broken, or knocked out. It can also protect softer tissues like the tongue, lips, and cheeks. Mouthguards are especially important for athletes who have braces, as they not only protect the brackets and wires, but also create a barrier between the braces and the inside of your cheeks and lips.
How can I choose the best mouthguard for my child?
Dental injuries from sports often require emergency medical care, and the long-term treatment for a damaged tooth can be costly. It’s well worth the investment of time and money to find a well-fitting mouthguard that will last.
While there are many mouthguards available “over the counter” at sporting goods stores and pharmacies, these one-size-fits-all options are often bulky and don’t fit well. Boil-and-bite mouthguards offer a more fitted option that can be more comfortable and offer better protection.
But the best choice for an athletic mouthguard is a custom-fitted guard made specifically for your child by a pediatric dentist. Our dentists here at Rockland Pediatric Dental & Orthodontics have the expertise to fit your child or teen for a mouthguard that will provide them the best protection possible, so they can focus on doing what they love!
Make an appointment to ask about custom mouthguards today.