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As your children begin their school year, sporting events will begin to take place. Anyone who participates in a sport that carries a risk of injury should wear a mouthguard. Sports including basketball, baseball, gymnastics, and volleyball all pose risks to your gum tissues, as well as your teeth. With football and hockey beginning, it is important to protect your child's teeth with a mouthguard as these sports are typically considered the most dangerous to teeth. However, nearly half of sports-related mouth injuries occur in basketball and baseball. This sporting season, take extra precautions and protect your children's smile with mouthguards. They will thank you in the end. What are Mouthguards? A mouthguard is a flexible appliance that is worn in athletic and recreational activities to protect your children's teeth from trauma. Your dentist strongly supports the use of mouthguards in a variety of sports and recreational activities. By wearing a mouthguard you can help prevent serious injuries in your children including broken teeth, jaw fractures, cerebral hemorrhage and neck injuries because it helps to avoid situations where the lower jaw gets jammed into the upper jaw. They are effective in moving soft tissue in the oral cavity away from the teeth, preventing laceration and bruising of the lips and cheeks, especially for those who wear orthodontic appliances. Mouthguards may also even reduce the severity and incidences of concussions. Anytime there is a strong chance for contact with other participants or hard surfaces, it is advisable for your child to wear a mouthguard. Types of Mouthguards There are three main types of mouthguards that are commonly used while participating in sports and other recreational activities: stock, mouth-formed and custom-made mouthguards. Stock mouthguards are the lowest in cost and are already made, stock items, which offer the least amount of protection because the fit adjustment is limited. A stock mouthguard is not considered an appropriate facial protective device, as it may interfere with speech and breathing. Mouth-formed mouthguards are formed to fit your mouth's unique shape and size. The first type of mouth-formed mouthguard is made with an acrylic material that is poured into an outer shell, where it forms a lining. When placed in your child's mouth, the protector's lining material molds to the teeth and is allowed to set. Another type is a thermoplastic mouthguard, which is softened in hot water and them placed in the mouth and shaped around the teeth by using your finger, tongue and sometimes with biting pressure. The best choice, however, is a custom-made mouthguard. A custom-made mouthguard offers the best protection, fit and comfort level because it is made from a cast to fit yours and only your, teeth. Keep Your Mouthguard Clean Mouthguards successfully avert oral injuries and cut the risk of concussion by 50 percent, but it is vital that your child maintains proper maintenance, cleanliness and care to prevent disease transmission and infection. According to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), mouthguards harbor large amounts of bacteria, yeasts and molds that can possibly lead to life or health-threatening infectious and inflammatory diseases. For proper mouthguard maintenance, make sure your child: * Brushes their teeth before wearing a mouthguard
* Never shares their mouthguard with teammates
* Has a backup mouthguard during sporting events
* Cleans mouth guards before storing them Talk to your dentist in Provo today to have your child fitted for a custom mouthguard. A properly fitted mouthguard provides a barrier against injury.
Sean Hartmen writes for leading family dentist in Provo, Dr. Adrian Huang. Providing services from teeth whitening to braces, Dr. Huang, dentist in Provo, provides the best in quality dental care for patients of all ages.
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