Children’s Mouthguards
Children’s mouthguards are a great investment to make in protecting your child’s smile. Their main use is to protect a child’s teeth, jaws, and soft tissues; however, recently some believe that they can improve performance in athletic events as well. While there is still some debate if the improved performance is related to a placebo effect or because of the children’s mouthguards one thing is certain; they provide great protection to those pearly whites during contact sports.
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When to wear a children’s mouthguard?
Generally speaking a child should wear a children’s mouthguard whenever they are playing a contact sport. Many parents might think that this is only during sports like football, hockey, and basketball; however, a number of injuries are seen in other sports such as baseball, softball, and soccer. In fact many dental injuries occur when children are not participating in sports at all but rather when they are riding a bike, skating, skateboarding, or jumping on a trampoline.
What type of children’s mouthguard is best?
When children are young their teeth and jaws are growing rapidly. During this time where baby teeth are falling out and new teeth are coming in a stock children’s mouthguard, also known as a boil and bite mouthguard, may be best for a child. These mouthguards are a little more bulky than a custom mouthguard but still provide adequate protection, and will save some money while a child is growing as they can be made as the teeth and jaws are changing.
When can a child have a custom mouthguard?
A custom mouthguard can be made for a child at any time; however, it is best to invest in one after the child’s baby teeth have fallen out. This usually occurs around age twelve, but can be later in boys than in girls. Custom mouthguards offer superior fit, protection of the teeth, and comfort during contact activities. These properties are achieved by making an impression of the teeth and jaws that precisely adapts to a child’s mouth. Custom mouthguards can also be made with a wide variety of colors and decals to make them fashionable for any sport.
Which teeth should a mouthguard cover?
Generally the teeth that are at the most risk for a dental injury are the upper front teeth. This may not be the case if your child has an underbite, or a bite where the lower front teeth are in front of the upper front teeth. A kid’s dentist should be able to help assess your child’s bite.
References
AAPD Policy on Prevention of Sports Related Orofacial Injuries