Sports are great for children and teens. They build confidence, discipline, coordination, and teamwork. But contact sports and recreational activities can also create a risk of dental injuries, including chipped teeth, knocked-out teeth, lip injuries, cheek injuries, and jaw trauma.
A properly fitted sports mouthguard can help protect your child’s smile during practices, games, and high-impact activities.
Why Mouthguards Matter
The American Dental Association recommends wearing a properly fitted mouthguard to reduce the incidence and severity of oral injuries during sports or recreational activities with dental trauma risk. Research published in JADA also supports the protective value of mouthguards for reducing sports-related injuries to the teeth and soft tissues.
For families in Lancaster, TX, a mouthguard may be especially important for children and teens who play football, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, wrestling, martial arts, lacrosse, hockey, volleyball, skateboarding, or other activities where falls or contact can happen.
What Can a Sports Mouthguard Help Protect?
A mouthguard acts as a cushion between the upper and lower teeth and between the teeth and soft tissues. It may help reduce the risk of:
- Chipped teeth
- Cracked teeth
- Knocked-out teeth
- Lip cuts
- Cheek injuries
- Tongue injuries
- Damage to braces or orthodontic appliances
- Jaw impact injuries
No mouthguard can prevent every injury, but wearing one is a smart preventive step.
Store-Bought vs. Custom Mouthguards
There are different types of mouthguards, including stock mouthguards, boil-and-bite mouthguards, and custom mouthguards made by a dentist. Store-bought options may be convenient, but they can feel bulky, fit loosely, or make it harder to breathe and speak.
A custom mouthguard is designed around the patient’s teeth, which may improve comfort and make it more likely that the child will actually wear it. This is especially helpful for athletes with braces, mixed baby and adult teeth, or a history of dental injuries.
Does My Child Need a Mouthguard With Braces?
Yes, athletes with braces should be extra careful. A sports injury can damage brackets and wires, cut the lips or cheeks, or affect orthodontic progress. Lancaster Dental & Orthodontics offers braces and Invisalign services, and the orthodontic service page notes that the office provides orthodontic care for tooth and jaw discrepancies.
Children and teens with braces should ask their dentist or orthodontist which type of mouthguard is safest for their treatment stage.
When Should a Mouthguard Be Replaced?
A child’s mouth changes as teeth grow, move, and erupt. A mouthguard may need replacement if:
- It feels loose
- It is torn or worn down
- It causes discomfort
- The child has new teeth coming in
- Braces are adjusted
- It no longer stays in place
- It affects breathing or speech
Parents should bring the mouthguard to dental visits so the dentist can check the fit.
Dental Protection for Student Athletes in Lancaster, TX
Lancaster Dental & Orthodontics provides pediatric dentistry, orthodontic care, emergency dental services, and general dental care for families in Lancaster, TX. Their pediatric services include care for dental injuries such as fractured, displaced, or knocked-out teeth.
Before the next sports season starts, consider scheduling a dental visit and asking about mouthguard options. Protecting your child’s teeth today may prevent painful and costly dental emergencies later.
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Sports Mouthguards for Kids and Teens in Lancaster, TX
Sports are great for children and teens. They build confidence, discipline, coordination, and teamwork. But contact sports and recreational activities can also create a risk of dental injuries, including chipped teeth, knocked-out teeth, lip injuries, cheek injuries, and jaw trauma.
A properly fitted sports mouthguard can help protect your child’s smile during practices, games, and high-impact activities.
Why Mouthguards Matter
The American Dental Association recommends wearing a properly fitted mouthguard to reduce the incidence and severity of oral injuries during sports or recreational activities with dental trauma risk. Research published in JADA also supports the protective value of mouthguards for reducing sports-related injuries to the teeth and soft tissues.
For families in Lancaster, TX, a mouthguard may be especially important for children and teens who play football, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, wrestling, martial arts, lacrosse, hockey, volleyball, skateboarding, or other activities where falls or contact can happen.
What Can a Sports Mouthguard Help Protect?
A mouthguard acts as a cushion between the upper and lower teeth and between the teeth and soft tissues. It may help reduce the risk of:
No mouthguard can prevent every injury, but wearing one is a smart preventive step.
Store-Bought vs. Custom Mouthguards
There are different types of mouthguards, including stock mouthguards, boil-and-bite mouthguards, and custom mouthguards made by a dentist. Store-bought options may be convenient, but they can feel bulky, fit loosely, or make it harder to breathe and speak.
A custom mouthguard is designed around the patient’s teeth, which may improve comfort and make it more likely that the child will actually wear it. This is especially helpful for athletes with braces, mixed baby and adult teeth, or a history of dental injuries.
Does My Child Need a Mouthguard With Braces?
Yes, athletes with braces should be extra careful. A sports injury can damage brackets and wires, cut the lips or cheeks, or affect orthodontic progress. Lancaster Dental & Orthodontics offers braces and Invisalign services, and the orthodontic service page notes that the office provides orthodontic care for tooth and jaw discrepancies.
Children and teens with braces should ask their dentist or orthodontist which type of mouthguard is safest for their treatment stage.
When Should a Mouthguard Be Replaced?
A child’s mouth changes as teeth grow, move, and erupt. A mouthguard may need replacement if:
Parents should bring the mouthguard to dental visits so the dentist can check the fit.
Dental Protection for Student Athletes in Lancaster, TX
Lancaster Dental & Orthodontics provides pediatric dentistry, orthodontic care, emergency dental services, and general dental care for families in Lancaster, TX. Their pediatric services include care for dental injuries such as fractured, displaced, or knocked-out teeth.
Before the next sports season starts, consider scheduling a dental visit and asking about mouthguard options. Protecting your child’s teeth today may prevent painful and costly dental emergencies later.
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