Custom Mouth Guards: Why Your Young Athlete Needs to Wear One on the Field

Save your kids teeth with a custom mouth guard.

If you’re reading this, chances are you have a child that is involved in at least one or more sports. In fact, nearly 60 million kids in the U.S. are registered to play a youth sport. This means you have something in common with most parents—you experience the joy and satisfaction of watching your child learn and grow, on and off the field. You also worry about keeping them safe from harm, especially if they are involved in a contact sport.

So, what can you do to protect your child’s smile when they’re playing sports like football, hockey, and wrestling? The answer is a custom mouth guard.

The Risks of Sports to Dental Health and How a Custom Mouth Guard Can Help

As parents, we do everything we can to keep our children safe and healthy. Perhaps even more so when they’re playing sports. Yet, despite our best efforts, accidents happen. In high-contact sports such as football, hockey, and wrestling, dental injuries are a common but serious concern. These injuries can range from tooth fractures, affecting the tooth’s crown, to more severe cases like tooth intrusion, extrusion, and avulsion.

Even the temporomandibular joint, which allows movement of the jaw, can be dislocated during play. These injuries are not just temporary setbacks; they can lead to long-term dental issues, affecting not just the patient’s smile but also their overall health.

Custom mouth guards can make a world of difference when it comes to keeping your kids safe on the field. Consider that according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, sports mishaps are responsible for 10–39% of all dental injuries in children. That’s a big number.

But, racing off to your local convenience store to pick up an off-the-shelf mouth guard for your child isn’t always the best answer. Custom-fitted mouth guards, such as the ones we create at Pediatric Dental Specialists of Omaha, are designed to match the unique contours of your child’s mouth.

Whereas a store-bought mouth guard can certainly protect your child’s teeth, it isn’t a perfect fit and is often uncomfortable. Custom mouth guards have a snug fit, offering superior protection without compromising your child’s comfort. They’re so well designed that they don’t significantly affect ventilation or speech. This means your child can communicate clearly and breathe easily on the field. And when your child is comfy, they’re more likely to wear their mouth guards versus throwing them to the side of the field.

The Benefits of Custom Mouth Guards

Let’s briefly recap the benefits of a custom mouth guard for your child.

  • Perfect Fit: Tailored to your child’s mouth for comfort and protection
  • Better Protection: Shields against serious dental injuries effectively
  • Doesn’t Affect Speech: Allows your child to communicate clearly on the field
  • Easy Breathing: Designed to not interfere with your child’s breathing during intense action
  • Long-Term Dental Health: Prevents costly and potentially painful dental issues down the line

The Role of Mouth Guards in Preventing Concussions

Mouth guards do more than protect teeth. They may also help prevent concussions. A Reuters article points to a Canadian study focusing on youth ice hockey, a sport where concussions are prevalent. Hockey Canada mandates the use of mouth guards, though this policy isn’t always strictly enforced.

Research into the connection between mouth guards and concussion rates has shown varied results. Initially, studies presented mixed findings on their effectiveness in reducing concussions. More recent data, however, indicates that using mouth guards could lower the odds of a concussion by 64%. This is possible due to a mouth guard’s ability to absorb shock, thus lessening the impact force that can cause a sports-related concussion (SRC).

Given these findings, it’s clear that while the research may not be unanimous, there’s sufficient evidence to believe in the protective benefits of mouth guards. So, the way we see it, why not encourage your child to wear a mouth guard? It’s sure to protect their teeth, but may help protect their growing brain as well.

Taking Care of Your Child’s Custom Mouth Guard

Taking care of your child’s custom mouth guard is easy. Here’s what to do.

  • Avoiding Alcohol: Use a mouthwash that doesn’t contain alcohol to prevent damage.
  • Rinsing with Cool Water: Always start by rinsing the mouth guard under cool, running water.
  • Soaking It in the Mouthwash Solution: Mix a capful of mouthwash with water in a clean glass. Make sure there’s enough mixture to cover the mouth guard. Place the mouth guard in the solution and leave it for 30 minutes.
  • Rinsing Again: Rinse with cool water to remove residue from the mouthwash solution.
  • Air Drying: Let your mouth guard air dry before storing it in its case.

Are you in need of a custom sports mouth guard for your child?

Dental safety in sports is not something we take lightly. We believe strongly in the benefits of custom mouth guards, and we’re confident you will too. If your child is active in contact sports, contact Pediatric Dental Specialists of Omaha today. We’re happy to help you and answer any other pediatric dentistry questions you might have. We look forward to helping you and your child at our dental office for kids in Omaha.