Sports help children stay active, build confidence, and develop teamwork, but they also increase the risk of dental injuries. A fall, collision, or impact from sports equipment can cause chipped, fractured, or knocked-out teeth, along with injuries to the lips, gums, and jaw. Many of these injuries are preventable. Wearing a mouthguard for kids during practices and games is a simple way to reduce the risk of sports-related dental injuries while allowing children to participate with confidence.
What Is a Mouthguard?
Designed to cover the teeth, a mouthguard helps prevent chipped, broken, or knocked-out teeth during sports and physical activities.It absorbs and distributes impact forces, helping protect the teeth, gums, lips, cheeks, tongue, and jaw. Children are especially vulnerable to dental injuries because their teeth and jaws are still developing. Even a light hit during sports can lead to chipped, cracked, or knocked-out teeth without adequate protection.
There are three common types of mouthguards:
- Stock mouthguards: Ready-to-wear but often bulky and less secure.
- Boil-and-bite mouthguards: Provide a better fit than stock mouthguards by being heat-molded to the wearer’s teeth at home.
- Custom sports mouthguards: Made by a dentist to provide the best comfort, stability, and protection.
While store-bought options offer basic protection, custom-made mouthguards usually provide a more secure fit and are easier to wear during sports.
Think of a Mouthguard as Essential Safety Equipment
A mouthguard should be viewed like a helmet or seat belt because it protects against injuries that can have lasting effects.Although football and hockey are commonly associated with mouthguards, dental injuries also occur during basketball, baseball, soccer, wrestling, gymnastics, skateboarding, biking, and martial arts. Even recreational activities can involve falls or accidental collisions.
Leading dental organizations, including the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, encourage the use of mouthguards whenever sports or recreational activities involve a risk of dental or facial trauma. If a child finds a mouthguard uncomfortable, the fit is often the problem. A well-fitted sports mouthguard for children stays securely in place, making it easier to breathe, speak, and play comfortably.
Benefits of Wearing a Mouthguard During Sports
A kid’s mouthguard protects more than just the teeth. It helps cushion impacts and lowers the risk of injuries that may require emergency treatment.
Benefits include:
- Reducing the risk of chipped, fractured, or knocked-out teeth.
- Protecting the lips, cheeks, tongue, and gums.
- Cushioning the jaw during impacts.
- Supporting safer participation in practices and games.
- Helping reduce forces transferred to the jaw, although mouthguards do not prevent concussions.
When Should Children Wear a Mouthguard?
Children should wear a mouthguard during both games and practices because injuries often happen during routine training.
A mouthguard is recommended for:
- Football
- Basketball
- Baseball and softball
- Soccer
- Hockey
- Wrestling
- Martial arts
- Gymnastics
- Skateboarding
- Biking
Children with braces should wear a mouthguard designed for orthodontic treatment. During routine pediatric dental care, parents can also ask whether mouthguards for kids in Houston are recommended for their child’s activities.
Caring for and Replacing a Child’s Mouthguard
A mouthguard should be cleaned after every use and stored in a ventilated case. Keep it away from heat, which can change its shape.
As children grow, a mouthguard may no longer fit properly. Regular dental visits allow your dentist to confirm that it continues to provide effective protection. If your mouthguard is torn, worn out, or no longer fits properly, it’s time to replace it.
What Should You Do If Your Child Experiences a Dental Sports Injury?
If a tooth is chipped, cracked, or loose, schedule a dental evaluation as soon as possible. In the event of a knocked-out permanent tooth, reinsert the tooth into the socket whenever possible. If reinsertion isn’t feasible, place it in milk or a tooth preservation solution to help maintain the tooth’s health until it can be treated. Rinse it gently if it’s dirty, place it back in the mouth, and seek emergency dental care for sports injuries immediately.
Final Thoughts
Children gain valuable health and social benefits from sports, but participating in athletic activities can also raise the risk of dental trauma. Using a well-fitting mouthguard during sports can help protect developing teeth, prevent serious dental injuries, and reduce the need for urgent dental care. At Cabrera Dental Associates, we help families choose mouthguards that fit comfortably and provide reliable protection so that children can enjoy sports with greater confidence.
FAQs
Yes. Custom-made mouthguards provide a more secure fit, greater comfort, and more reliable protection during sports.
Yes. Specially designed mouthguards can protect both the teeth and orthodontic appliances.
Replace it whenever it no longer fits properly or shows signs of wear. Your dentist can also check the fit during routine visits.
Avoid touching the tooth’s root, keep the tooth moist, and contact an emergency dentist immediately to increase the chances of successful treatment.
Yes. Custom-made mouthguards are designed to fit your child’s teeth precisely, providing better comfort, stability, and protection than most over-the-counter options. A secure fit also makes it easier for children to breathe, speak, and wear the mouthguard consistently during sports.
