Does your kid need a mouthguard

Does Your Kid Need a Mouthguard?

At this time of year, many kids take part in contact sports, increasing the risk of dental injuries.

The risk isn’t just confined to these sports as some non-contact sports can present a risk of injury.

Unfortunately, dentists often see kids with chipped or broken teeth. Sometimes they see worse, with teeth missing due to sports injuries and often these injuries could be lessened or even completely avoided.

This is if the child had been wearing a mouth guard. A child who sustains a dental injury to their adult teeth will be faced with a lifetime of dental bills to restore or replace that tooth. This is a real shame when a well-fitting mouth guard could have saved them discomfort, money and time in the years to come.

Why a Custom-Fitted Mouth guard is best You probably know that it is possible to buy an over-the-counter mouth guard pretty cheaply.

Your dentist would advise against it as you will get what you pay for. These types of mouth guards will often fit poorly and can be very uncomfortable to wear. They can possibly obstruct breathing or make it difficult for your child to talk.

As a result, they are far less likely to be worn and even if they are used then they’ll only provide a very minimal level of protection. A custom-made mouth guard is a far better option, offering maximum protection for your child’s teeth and jaws. It reduces the risk of an injury as much as possible. Your dentist’s mouth guards come in a huge range of colors and designs.

This makes it easy for your kid to customize their choice which makes wearing it a bit more fun.

They are made from a very tough, neutral tasting and odorless thermoplastic material. It will be thickened in critical areas to provide even more protection. Although they may cost a little more than an over-the-counter mouth guard, it’s a small price to pay for the high level of protection offered.

What Is the Procedure for Making a Custom-Made Mouth guard?

The procedure is non-invasive and completely painless as your dentist will need to do is take a detailed impression of your child’s mouth. This is used by a dental laboratory to construct a custom-made mouth guard according to your dentist’s instructions. This is so that it fits exactly over their teeth ensuring it will be comfortable to wear. Your dentist can fit the mouth guard at the next appointment and it will be ready to use.

To look after the mouth guard, it simply needs to be washed thoroughly after each use in cool clean water. Afterward, you can store it in the box provided by your dentist but just make sure it is away from any direct heat as this could distort it. When your kid has a custom mouthguard, your dentist will check it at regular intervals to make sure it still fits correctly.

This is also to ensure it doesn’t have any rips or tears that could affect its performance. As your child’s teeth and jaws are still developing its likely that your dentist will need to renew their mouth guard. They will do this at regular intervals to continue offering the best level of protection.