Protecting Your Child’s Teeth During Sports

With a new school year about to get underway, schoolwide sports are about to kick of their seasons. Football season is right around the corner, and basketball, baseball, lacrosse, and other seasons will be here before you know it. It is exciting for both parents and their sports-enthused children to get excited about a new jersey and equipment, but it is also important to remember that children, adolescents, and teens’ teeth need to be protected.

Each year in the United States there are 15 million children participating in organized sports. Of these 15 million children, approximately ten percent will suffer from some type of mouth-related injury. Protecting your children’s teeth during any type of sport is a very important step because damage done to the mouth can have permanent consequences.

A protective mouth guard is an essential piece of equipment for any child who participates in a contact sport. Football is not the only sport where injury to the mouth is likely – any contact sport where balls, elbows, knees, bats, or sticks are flying around pose the possibility for injury to the mouth. A protective mouth guard protects the teeth from trauma and injury if contact to the mouth were to occur, yet it is essential that your child have a custom athletic mouth guard that fits his/her teeth.

While there are over-the-counter choices available for boiling mouth guards at home and having your child bite on it to “fit” the mouth, these come in one-size-fits-all and do not adjust to the curves and shape of individual mouths. Custom mouth guards made at the dentist are specifically created to fit every nook and cranny inside your child’s mouth. They are comfortable enough that your child can speak, breathe, and participate in sports without the distraction of an improper fit.

At Family & Cosmetic Dental Care in Johns Creek, we want to help all of our patients maintain optimal oral care. We are proud to offer custom athletic mouth guards to our recreationally active patients. We are the trusted source for custom mouth guards because we understand their importance in protecting the structure, stability, and health of your child’s smile. Call us today to schedule an appointment. We proudly accept dental insurance and offer financing through CareCredit®.

Posted by Mitul Patel DDS, Family & Cosmetic Dental Care
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