Should My Child Wear a Mouth Guard While Playing Sports?

A mouth guard is a protective covering worn over teeth to protect them while playing sports or grinding them at night. In the past, the use of mouth guards was mostly restricted to athletes. These days, more parents are following their dentists' advice and getting mouth guards for their kids who participate in physical sports.

Should children wear mouth guards while playing sports?

Every child who plays sports should wear a mouth guard because it protects the soft tissue in their mouths, lips, and tongues, decreasing their risk of damaging their teeth while playing. However, traditional mouth guards only cover the top teeth. In modern times, some kids use mouth guards on their bottom teeth as well if they wear braces. If the child’s mouth guard is fitted properly, it will protect their brackets and keep the braces from injuring their gums and cheeks.

Types of mouth guards

Stock mouth guards

This is a one-size-fits-all mouth guard that is very inexpensive and ready to wear. However, they do not fit very well in a child's mouth and they are very big, which makes breathing difficult when wearing them. Since they cannot be adjusted to fit the child's mouth properly, dentists usually do not recommend this type of mouth guard.

Boil-and-bite

This type is better than the stock mouth guard because it fits better in the child's mouth. To use this mouth guard, the parent will first have to soften it up by boiling it in a pot of hot water, allowing them to shape it to their child's specific needs.

Custom-made mouth guard

This is considered the best type of mouth guard because it is specifically designed for the child's needs, which means it will fit properly in their mouth. However, since these appliances are made specifically for them, they are more expensive than the other two mouth guard types.

Taking care of a mouth guard

When the child is done using their mouth guard, they and their parents can follow the below steps to keep it clean:

• Rinse: Once the child is finished using their mouth guard, they should rinse it with cold water or mouthwash to keep it clean. They can also use some soap and a toothbrush to clean it after use, but make sure to rinse it thoroughly to remove any soap residue.
• Store in a perforated container: After cleaning the mouth guard, the child can store it in a perforated container, helping protect it when it is not in use.
• Take it to the next dental examination: Parents should bring their child's mouth guard with them during their next routine check-up. This allows the dentist to examine it and determine if it is time to replace it.

Call our office to schedule an appointment

Mouth guards are designed to protect your child from damaging their teeth when playing physical sports. Do you think your child needs a mouth guard for their upcoming sports season? Call our office to schedule an appointment to help determine which mouth guard is the best available option for your child's needs.

Request an appointment here: https://www.ddsbaik.com or call Dennis Baik, DDS at (408) 676-5321 for an appointment in our San Jose office.

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