When your child gets ready to play a favorite sport, he or she probably straps on an array of protective gear. Helmets, knee pads, and shoulder pads are all designed to keep your child safe from harm. Despite these precautions, however, you may be forgetting a vital piece of protective gear. Athletic mouth guards are extremely important to oral health; wearing a mouth guard can help to prevent a number of dental emergencies, ranging from split lips to a broken tooth. In this post, your Milford dentist explains the importance of mouth guards and provides recommendations for selecting the right device for your child.
Why Wear Mouth Guards?
Although teeth are even stronger than bone, they are incredibly vulnerable. An errant ball, an accidental hit in the face, or a tumble can result in devastating dental damage. While bone is able to regenerate and heal itself, a broken or lost tooth can only be corrected with restorative dentistry. Athletic mouth guards are incredibly effective in preventing dental damage. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation (NYSSF), athletes who do not wear protective devices are over 60 times more likely to suffer dental damage than those who do. While you might assume that only older, more aggressive athletes need to wear these devices, all athletes who participate in high-contact sports can benefit from mouth guards, no matter how young they are. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that children as young as five sustain half of the sports-related injuries each year.
Mouth Guards Are a Worthy Investment
Despite these alarming statistics, the vast majority of young athletes do not wear mouth guards. According to a 2009 survey conducted by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), 84% of children do not wear mouth guards while playing sports. The AAO surmised that because mouth guards are not required safety equipment, many children and parents assume that they are not important. However, the organization points out that mouth guards are extremely inexpensive, especially compared to other safety gear. By purchasing a simple mouth guard for your child, you could be guarding him or her (and yourself) against pain, serious dental damage, and significant medical and dental bills.
Choosing Your Mouth Guard
When selecting your child’s protective device, you will typically have three options to choose from: stock mouth guards, boil and bite mouth guards, and custom made mouth guards. The first two devices are available at almost all sporting goods stores. Stock mouth guards typically come in standard sizes, and they are not adjustable. Because of this, they do not provide the best protection for your child’s teeth, and they may even inhibit breathing. Boil and bite guards can be adjusted to fit your child’s mouth. After dropping them in hot water, they can then be molded around his or her teeth. Your dentist can also provide custom mouth guards that are specifically designed for your child. Though these may cost more than store bought devices, they provide optimal protection against dental damage.
To learn more about oral health and protecting your child’s smile, contact Sensitive Care Cosmetic and Family Dentistry at 203-878-6699. We provide experienced general, restorative, and emergency dental care to patients in Milford, Woodmont, Orange, West Haven, and the entire 06460 area code.