Mouth Guards

According to the US Center for Disease Control & Prevention, more than half of the 7 million sports and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by children as young as 5 years old. The National Youth Safety Foundation adds that athletes who don’t wear protective mouth guards are 60 times more likely to damage teeth. If your child is engaging in physical sports, please make sure their mouth, teeth and jaws are protected! Taking preventive measures and wearing a mouth guard is a simple and effective way to help prevent injuries to your child’s mouth, jaws and teeth.

Which Mouth Guard Should You Buy?

Depending on the sport, the age of the child and whether or not he or she has braces will determine the type of mouth guard that would be best. There are three main types of mouth guards available:

1. Stock Mouth Guards – These mouth guards are preformed and ready to wear out of the package. They are inexpensive and can be bought at most local sports stores. However, the down side is they provide much less protection, are bulkier and make breathing and talking more difficult.
2. Boil & Bite Mouth Guards – These, too, can be bought at local sporting stores but they have a better fit than stock mouth guards. They are placed in hot water to soften the material and then placed in the mouth to shape around the teeth.
3. Custom Mouth Guards – These mouth guards are the best fit for your child and are custom-made in our office. First, we take an impression of your child’s teeth and then a mouth guard is then molded over the model using a special material. Custom mouth guards provide the most comfort and protection for your child.

How to Care for Mouth Guards

1. Rinse mouth guard with cold water before and after use or clean it with mild soap and a toothbrush
2. Be sure to keep the mouth guard in a protective case to prevent damage
3. Do not keep mouth guard in hot temperatures. Doing so may distort it.
4. Check the mouth guard for wear and tear. If it becomes loose or causes discomfort, replace it.