With fall rapidly approaching, the team at Trade Winds Dental understands the importance of being outside. Schools will soon come to session, and we know there will also be an increase in outdoor activities and team sports. This week we would like to talk about mouth guards, what they are, when to use them, the works. If you have any additional questions, give us a call at Trade Winds Dental. We’d love to hear from you!
Q: What are athletic mouth protectors?
A: Athletic mouth guards are made of soft plastic. They are adapted to fit comfortably to the shape of the upper teeth.
Q: Why are mouth guards important?
A: Mouth guards hold top priority as sports equipment. They protect not just the teeth, but the lips, cheeks, and tongue. They help protect children from such head and neck injuries as concussions and jaw fractures. Increasingly, organized sports are requiring them to prevent injury to their athletes. Research shows that most oral injuries occur when athletes are not wearing mouth protection.
Q: When should my child wear a mouth guard?
A: Whenever he or she is in an activity with a risk of falls or of head contact with other players or equipment. This includes football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding, even gymnastics. We usually think of football and hockey as the most dangerous to the teeth, but nearly half of sports-related mouth injuries occur in basketball and baseball.
Q: How do I choose a mouth guard for my child?
A: Dr. Winegar does provide custom fitted ones at a reasonable price, and we feel they are more effective than the “boil and bite” OTC models because of the custom fit. However, any mouth guard works better than none. Choose a mouth guard that your child can wear comfortably. If it feels bulky or interferes with speech, it will be left in the locker room.