Schools often ask that parents have mouth guards for their children when they participate in sports. When they do this, they are looking out for the health and safety of all children involved, as every parent should be. A custom fitted mouth guard is currently the only protection against certain types of injuries and should be a priority.
Mouth Protection
The basic reason to wear a custom mouth guard is to protect the mouth. If the external mouth region is hit, the teeth can cut into the skin, break, fall out or grind against each other. Mouth guards prevent all of this from happening. They cover the sharp edges of the teeth, keep the teeth aligned and make it near impossible for an impact to press the tooth enough that it falls out. Without mouth guards, professional athletes would lose teeth often, as evidenced by photos from pre-regulation hockey.
Other Injuries That Mouth Guards Prevent
Mouth guards do more than protect the wearer. In contact sports, a player can bump into another player’s mouth and wind up with a severe cut. If the bump is hard enough, the teeth can even sink deep into the flesh. They also help keep the jaw from breaking, though not thoroughly. If the teeth do not break when there is an impact, there is not enough room for the jaw to keep going and wind up out of alignment. However, there are a number of angles that can still result in a broken jaw, which is why full helmets are essential in many sports.
Why a Custom Fitted Mouth Guard?
Custom fitted mouth guards do more to protect the mouth than any other mouth guards. They are less likely to fall out, as they fit directly on the teeth. They are less likely to slide or pop off during impact. They do not interfere with the bite and cause dental problems the way ill fitted mouth guards do.
Sport That Require a Mouth Guard
All school sports that involve any contact require mouth guards. Popular sports that require mouth guards include:
- Hockey
- Football
- Wrestling
- Lacrosse
Not wearing a mouth guard is potentially far more expensive than purchasing a custom fit one. The difference in dental costs can equal thousands.
Visit Your Dentist
Make an appointment today with your family dentist for custom fitted mouth guards for all of your children involved in sports. This is a preventative measure could potentially save your child’s smile. Please don’t risk one more game or practice.
Do you live in the Bolivar, Missouri area? Call Bolivar Family Dental at (417) 777-8654 to make an appointment for your child today. Dr. Paul Gonzales is proud to serve the dental needs of kids in sports in our community.
Click the Schedule An Appointment button for a Custom Mouth Guard!
Group of Sports Kids
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