What are mouthguards and why are they so important?

Mouthguards are athletic mouth protectors made of soft plastic. They come in standard and custom fits to adapt comfortably to the upper teeth.

Mouthguards protect the teeth, lips, cheeks, tongue and jaw bone from possible sport injuries. They can also help protect a child from head and neck injuries, such as concussions. Most injuries occur to the mouth and head area when a child is not wearing a mouthguard.

A child should wear a mouthguard during any athletic activity in which there is risk of a head, face or neck injury. Such sports include hockey, soccer, karate, basketball, baseball, skating, skateboarding, and many more. Most oral injuries occur during basketball, baseball and soccer.

Choose a mouthguard your child feels is comfortable. If a mouthguard feels bulky or interferes with speech to a great degree, it’s probably not right for your child.

Mouthguards vary in comfort, protection as well as cost. The least expensive tend to be the least effective at preventing oral injuries. Dentistry for Kids provides customized mouthguards. They are more expensive than other mouthguards, but also more comfortable and shock absorbent.