Sports can lead to significant injury, but that doesn’t mean your child should avoid playing them! Exercise is necessary in maintaining a healthy life style. Taking the proper steps to prevent injury can both reduce your stress and minimize medical bills. An important step that is often overlooked is protecting your children’s teeth.
Mouth Guard
Using a mouth guard can go a long way toward preventing damage from occurring to your child’s teeth. There are several different kinds of mouth guards. There are mouth guards that you can buy at sports stores. These are often designed to be boiled and fit specifically for your child’s mouth. If you choose to buy a mouth guard from a store, ensure that they have the ADA seal of acceptance to ensure that they meet basic dental standards.
Custom-made
Most dentists agree that custom-made mouth guards offer more effective protection. These are made by your dentist and are created specifically for your child’s mouth. Not only are these more effective, but they also tend to make it easier for your child to breathe.
Most people think that mouth guards only need to be used during high-contact sports like hockey or football. Though these are absolutely necessary when playing high-contact sports, they should also be used during more low-contact sports. Even when cycling, there is a possibility of injury to the face. A mouth guard should be worn even in these scenarios.
Furthermore, a mouth guard should be replaced at the beginning of every season. Your child’s mouth grows and evolves, so for most effective protection, it is important to replace it frequently. A mouth guard is a small expense relative to the expense that comes with fixing oral health issues. To learn more about how to protect your child’s teeth while they’re playing sports, contact us at Avenues Dentistry today!