Back to School Season and Children's Mouth Guard Needs
With back to school season here, your main concern may be making sure your child’s list of supplies and back to school wardrobe are checked off your to do list . But with going back to school, also comes your child’s fall sport activities. These fall sports, contact or no contact sports, could be a major risk to the dental health of your child.
Does Your Child Need a Mouth Guard?
Some fall sports, like lacrosse and football, require mouth guards. However, dental experts also recommend mouth guards for:
Ball-and-stick sports like baseball and softball
Competitive riding including cycling, horseback riding, and skateboarding
Hand-to-hand sports like boxing and martial arts
Field sports like football and soccer
Outdoor activities like biking and rollerblading
The golden rule is really that a mouth guard should be used with any sport that has a risk of any impact incidents involving your child’s face or head. A mouth guard should be worn ANYTIME your child is engaging in the sports listed above and could be at risk of the injuries listed below.
Injuries That Mouth Guards Help Protect Against:
Concussions
Partial or total tooth loss
Soft-tissue injuries involving the lips, tongue, gums, and cheeks
Tooth damage such as fractures, extrusion, and chips
Now that you know your child may need a mouth guard, which type should you purchase? There are 3 types of mouth guards:
Standard which cannot be modified to fit your child’s mouth, but can be used to help them get comfortable wearing a mouth guard.
Bite-and-Fit which can be warmed and molded to your child’s teeth. Although these are more comfortable than standard mouth guards they still cannot necessarily house braces.
Custom sports mouth guards are fitted by your dentist for a perfect fit to your child’s teeth. These are often the best option as they are made with the highest quality material for longevity and comfort and the custom fit allows them to minimize injuries the most efficiently.
For your child to be the most prepared for back to school, a mouth guard may be as much a necessity as their backpack or calculator. Protecting your child’s oral health and teeth with fall sports is a reasonable concern. A sports induced oral injury can cause long-term dental complications. For the best protection a custom fit mouth guard is best, so contact Smiles by Bergen Dental and make an appointment with Dr. Liany Farinas-Han before their fall sports begin and get your child fitted for their custom mouth guard.
Smiles by Bergen Dental, located in Bergen County NJ, provides quality dental care and treatment by practicing the most up to date dental procedures & the latest technology. We welcome new patients! Smiles by Bergen Dental is conveniently located in Midland Park New Jersey, within minutes from Ridgewood, Wyckoff, Glen Rock, Paramus, Ramsey, Allendale, Saddle River, and Ho-Ho-Kus.
For questions about mouth guards or to schedule an appointment, contact Smiles by Bergen Dental.
