All Mouth Guards are Not Created Equal

By Family Dentistry & Aesthetics Inc.

mouth guardImagine you are watching a weekend soccer game when your 12-year-old makes a move to join the fray and go for the ball. “Yes!” you think, “go get it!”

You’re full of pride that your kiddo has taken the initiative. There’s simply too many kids going for the ball at once, though, and instead of getting the ball, he gets an accidental elbow to the face. In a split second, one child is cradling his elbow and your child is holding his jaw. The next minute, he’s on the ground looking for his tooth.

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Many children’s and teens’ teeth have been broken or lost to scenarios like this one. If your children are playing sports without quality mouth guards, they are more likely to lose a permanent tooth or sustain damage that requires serious dental work. There are several levels of quality when it comes to sports mouth guards (sports guards), but there really is no substitute for a customized mouth guard, made by dental professionals.

Why One-Size Mouth Guards Don’t Cut It

There are three levels of mouth guard: (1) one size, (2) boil-and-bite, and (3) dentist-provided.

The simplest and cheapest is the one-size kind you can buy at sports supply stores. They are not terrible products and they do provide an adequate level of protection. The problem with them is that all kids’ mouths are not the same size or shape. They may make it hard for your child to close his mouth comfortably or may go flying out of the mouth when they are most needed. When you buy this type of sports guard, what you often end up with is a child that doesn’t like wearing it. If kids don’t like wearing them, they may take them out too frequently or “forget” to wear them at all!

The second level is the store-bought kind that can be molded to your child’s arches when softened in hot water, boil-and-bite guards. These are definitely more comfortable for children–but they, too, have flaws. Their ability to protect and fit well is tied to your child applying just the right amount of pressure when they make the impression. If kids bite down too soft, the guard will feel too big and be uncomfortable. If they bite down too hard, the teeth may not get adequate cushioning, and may still make contact if their mouth sustains force that pushes the jaw closed. 

The only kind of sports guard that offers the maximum level of protection is one that is made from a dental impression. The sports guards offered through dental offices are customized to fit your child’s mouth perfectly. They protect the teeth and gums when engaged in any sports or recreation activities that may compromise the teeth and gums. They are also made to be comfortable, so your child will wear it!

You can also find a fourth level of mouth guard in recent years, with the advent of internet-based services. There are companies out there who will send you an impression kit that you send back for a customized mouth guard. This sounds like a great idea, but it offers the same challenges as the boil and bite variety: can you be sure you did the dental impression correctly?

At dental offices, we do thousands of impressions each year, and we know how to make sure the process is done right. If you want maximum protection and peace of mind, getting a sports guard made from a professionally administered dental impression is your best option.

Your Dentist Provides Guards that Offer Maximum Protection

You keep your children current on their vaccinations, make them wear their seat belts, and teach them how to stay safe on the internet. If there’s a threat looming from any direction, you’ve probably considered all the angles twenty times before breakfast and taught your child how to avoid the danger. Protecting your children is possibly the most important role a parent has.

The most common way for a child to lose a permanent tooth is from a sport-related accident, such as a hockey stick to the jaw or a rogue fast-ball on the little league diamond. If your child is a serious athlete, get him or her a serious mouth guard.

To learn more about sports guards for your family, contact Family Dentistry and Aesthetics of Fort Wayne, IN. Call us today at 260-432-0561 for an appointment with one of our friendly dentists.
Call Our Office Today at (260) 432-0561

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