Should Your Kids Wear Mouth Guards?

A properly fitted mouthguard helps reduce the risk of dental and oral injuries during sports.

While most may consider mouth guards to be part of the equipment for adults playing sports, that’s simply not true. Younger kids have a higher chance of injuring their mouths due to physical activity - often because they aren’t as prepared or capable of knowing that certain activities could result in injury, or not having enough experience as to what to anticipate when playing a high impact sport. Coaches, teachers, and parents should educate children participating in physical sports to wear a mouth guard during practice and during games. The younger kids are when they start wearing mouth guards, the better.

There are two main options when it comes to mouth guards. 

Custom - Made Mouth Guard

A custom - made mouth guard is when you visit your dentist and have a mold created to the exact fit of your child’s mouth. While custom - made mouth guards cost more than the kind you purchase at a local pharmacy or sporting goods store, they are better at protecting teeth simply because they fit perfectly in your child’s mouth.  This kind of mouth guard also stays inside your child’s mouth (more easily than a store bought guard) if they should fall or get hit in the face.

Boil and Bite Mouth Guard 

This is a common first mouthguard. Why? Because you can purchase them at just about any store you currently shop at and they are cheaper mouth guards than the custom-made option.

Fit a boil-and-bite mouthguard exactly as the manufacturer directs, including the cooling step before it enters the mouth. Do not place hot material in a child’s mouth. An adult should supervise fitting, and children with braces should ask their orthodontist about an appropriate guard.

While a properly fitted boil-and-bite mouthguard can be suitable, a custom-made guard may be a better choice for a handful of reasons. 

For questions about mouth guards or to schedule a mouthguard fitting appointment, contact Smiles by Bergen Dental and ask to speak with a dentist.