With the summer quickly approaching and sports camps in the near future, safety is key. The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation estimates that over three million teeth are knocked out every year during youth sporting events. In order to save your favorite smile from the same fate, reliable protection is a must. Below, you can learn more about the different types of mouthguards for children and how they can help minimize the chances of an unexpected visit to your pediatric emergency dentist.
Why Are Mouthguards So Important for Children?
Even though your child may be on a little league team, they can still knock out, chip, or damage a tooth. In fact, only about 41 percent of young athletes wear protective mouthguards. Whether they are participating in martial arts, football, soccer, or basketball, all it takes is one stray ball or elbow to lead to a dental emergency. For this reason, investing in a sportsguard can not only help save you from an unexpected bill, but also help your child feel more confident while they are out on the field or court.
Different Types of Children’s Mouthguards
When it comes to choosing the best mouthguard for your child, you have plenty of options to consider:
- Boil-&-Bite: One of the most common types of mouthguards purchased by parents are the ones that you can get in the store, which can be boiled, and then molded to your child’s mouth. Despite being customized to fit your child’s mouth, this style of guard won’t be able to provide as reliable protection as a professionally crafted one.
- Premade: Stock mouthguards can be purchased in a variety of different shapes and sizes and are the least costly option. However, they often don’t fit well.
- Custom: The best level of protection is offered by customized mouthguards crafted especially for your child by their pediatric dentist in Leesburg. These are made from high-quality materials in a dental laboratory, helping minimize the risk of damaged teeth as well as jaw injuries.
Although the best protection may require the highest up-front investment, it is still less costly than a trip to the emergency dentist, making it well worthwhile!
Watching your child do what they love and learn about teamwork can be incredibly rewarding, especially if you are not fearful of an impending accident occurring. With reliable, quality protection from oral trauma, a custom-crafted mouthguard can help you and your child get the most out of every sporting event.
About the Author
Dr. Vani Takiar, better known by her patients as “Agent T,” is a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist with several years of experience. She enjoys being able to build long-lasting relationships with both her patients and parents, making her the go-to person to call when the unexpected happens. She also offers customized preventive dental services, like mouthguards, to put parents’ minds at ease knowing that their child’s smile is safeguarded. For questions or to schedule an appointment, visit Tooth Clues’ website or call 571-755-4003.