Youth sports can offer countless benefits for children, including improved confidence, physical fitness, and teamwork skills. While parents and guardians often focus on helmets, pads, and other protective equipment, safeguarding a child’s smile is just as important.

Dental injuries are one of the most common sports-related injuries in children and teenagers. A custom mouthguard can significantly reduce the risk of dental injuries that may require costly treatments while helping young athletes stay safe and confident during play. 

Keep reading to learn more about why you should consider a custom mouthguard for your child’s sports.

How Do Mouthguards Prevent Injuries?

A mouthguard acts as a protective cushion between the teeth, lips, cheeks, and jaws during physical activity. When a child experiences a fall or impact, mouthguards help absorb the force that could otherwise damage the teeth and surrounding tissue.

Many parents and guardians associate the need for mouthguards only with high-contact sports, but injuries can occur during nearly any athletic activity. Even sports with limited physical contact, such as baseball, can involve falls, collisions, and equipment-related accidents that place teeth at risk.

The most common dental injuries children sustain during sports include: 

• Soft Tissue Injuries: Soft tissue injuries include cuts, bruising, and tears to the lips, tongue, cheeks, or gums, often caused by direct impact from a ball, equipment, or another player. 
• Chipped or Broken Teeth: Even minor chips can expose the tooth’s root or pulp and damage the enamel or inner layers of the tooth. 
• Tooth Loss: When a tooth is completely dislodged from its socket, it can be a time-sensitive emergency requiring immediate care to prevent permanent loss.
• Luxation: Luxation occurs when a tooth is displaced from its normal position: either pushed sideways, loosened, or driven deeper into the jawbone.

Which Sports Are Most Likely to Harm Children’s Dental Health?

Although accidents can occur in any sport, certain sports carry a higher risk of dental injuries due to frequent contact, fast-moving equipment, or the potential for falls. Some of the sports with the highest incidence of dental injury include:

• Basketball: Basketball consistently ranks as the number one cause of dental injury. 
• Baseball and Softball: Dental injuries during baseball or softball games are most often caused by mishandled bats or being struck by high-speed balls. 
• Football: Frequent collisions with other players can result in cracked teeth and soft tissue damage.
• Hockey and Lacrosse: Fast-flying pucks, balls, and sticks make these sports high-risk for severe dental injuries. 
• Field Hockey: Within girls’ sports, field hockey is known for its high incidence of mouth injuries.

Engaging in individual sports, such as skateboarding, biking, skiing, and snowboarding, can also increase the likelihood of dental injuries. Mishaps in these sports often result in sudden impacts against hard surfaces that can seriously damage teeth and oral tissues.

What is the Difference Between Retail Mouthguards and Custom Mouthguards? 

Busy parents and guardians may try to save time by heading to a sporting goods store to purchase a mouthguard for their child. These stores usually carry several mouthguard options that may provide some protection, but may not prevent more serious injuries.

One-size-fits-all mouthguards are pre-formed and ready to wear right out of the package. Because they are designed to fit mouths of all sizes, they often fit loosely and may shift during activity.

Boil-and-bite mouthguards are another typical option. This type of mouthguard may offer an improved fit, but the level of protection they provide can vary significantly depending on the accuracy of the molding process.

For the best fit and highest level of protection, custom mouthguards created in a pediatric dentist’s office are the best choice for your child’s smile. Because custom mouthguards fit snugly and comfortably, children are more likely to wear them consistently, while their secure fit helps prevent shifting during physical activity.

The high-quality materials used in custom mouthguards are often more durable than those found in store-bought alternatives. This durability helps the mouthguard maintain its shape and provide continual protection throughout the sports season. 

Children with braces, retainers, dental crowns, or other oral appliances can especially benefit from a custom mouthguard. A pediatric dentist can adjust a child’s mouthguard to fit their unique dental needs for optimal protection.

How Are Custom Mouthguards Made?

Having a custom mouthguard made is a simple process that usually takes just one or two visits to the dentist. The first step involves taking impressions or digital scans of your child’s teeth, gums, and mouth to create an accurate model of their smile.

Using this model, the mouthguard is fabricated from durable, high-quality dental-grade materials that can absorb and distribute impact forces. These materials are stronger and more durable than those typically found in retail mouthguards.

Once the mouthguard is ready, your child will return to the dental office for a fitting. Their dentist will check that it feels comfortable and stays securely in place, and make small adjustments if necessary to improve the fit.

As your child grows and their teeth change, the mouthguard may eventually need to be replaced. Regular dental visits can help determine when it’s time for a new custom mouthguard.

Playing a favorite sport is an excellent way for children to stay active, develop healthy habits, and build confidence. A custom mouthguard can help ensure that sports-related injuries don’t compromise the start to a lifetime of healthy smiles!

Is your young athlete ready for a custom mouthguard that actually fits? Schedule an appointment with Premier Pediatric Dentistry in Miami, FL, today.