Can Mouth Guards Prevent Dental Injuries in Children?

Youth sports today have more precautions in place than ever for keeping children safe and reducing their risk of serious injury — from pads and helmets to heat safety requirements, concussion protocols, and more. Still, the risk of dental and oral injury is often overlooked or underrecognized. At Apple Tree Pediatric Dentistry, Lawrenceville, GA pediatric dentist Dr. Jeni Kong and our caring team are committed to ensuring the health and safety of your child's teeth and oral structures with a comprehensive offering of pediatric dental services and solutions — including custom-made athletic mouth guards for kids. Take a closer look here at how custom dental mouth guards can help prevent or minimize injuries for children who participate in sports and other high-risk activities.

Does my child need to wear a mouth guard during sports?

Generally speaking, athletic mouth guards are strongly encouraged for children who participate in sports — particularly high-risk and contact sports like football, hockey, wrestling, and others. However, even activities that may seem relatively low contact, as well as sports for younger age groups, can result in an elevated risk of dental and oral injuries. If you have questions about whether your child may be a good candidate for a pediatric athletic mouth guard, don't hesitate to ask Dr. Jeni during your next appointment or at any time.

Will a mouth guard prevent my child's tooth from getting knocked out during sports?

A mouth guard can greatly reduce the risk of losing a tooth or sustaining another type of dental or oral injury as a result of contact during sports — whether with another player or a ball, puck, stick, or otherwise. This is particularly important for children who already have their adult teeth. Even children who still have their baby teeth, however, should be protected with a mouth guard during sports, as having a baby tooth knocked out prematurely can impact the development and spacing of their mouth overall.

Can kids with braces wear a sports mouth guard?

Absolutely. In fact, children with braces may benefit even more from wearing a mouth guard, as contact injuries with braces could result in secondary injuries associated with their brackets and wires — like cuts, lacerations, and others.

Can I use an over-the-counter mouth guard for kids' sports?

While there are a number of DIY mouth guard kits available, it is important to understand that these appliances are made from much lower quality materials than professional dental mouth guards, meaning they will not provide the same level of protection. Additionally, mouth guards you can buy at the store are often uncomfortable and not suitable for children's unique mouth size and shape. For the most comfortable and protective mouth guard for children, parents should turn to a pediatric dentist to have a customized mouth guard created based on impressions of their child's mouth. These mouth guards can be further adjusted to ensure the most comfortable and snug fit possible. Some of the specific benefits of a custom mouth guard made by your dentist vs. a store-bought mouthguard include:

• Custom-made for your child's mouth
• More comfortable
• Fits more securely
• Lasts longer
• Higher-quality materials
• Enhanced protection from injury

Protect your child's teeth with a custom mouth guard from our Lawrenceville, GA pediatric dentist

When it comes to the health and safety of your child, our caring pediatric dental office in Lawrenceville, GA is here to help support you and your family with a complete range of children's dentistry services — including customized athletic mouth guards for kids' sports. Take the first step toward safeguarding your child's teeth by calling us at Apple Tree Pediatric Dentistry to schedule your child's consultation and exam with Lawrenceville, GA children's dentist Dr. Jeni Kong.