In case You Missed It!

Last month we did a blog post on the importance of your child using a mouthguard when playing sports. Most parents don’t realize that soccer—which is the sport in season right now—is as much a contact sport as football!

I see a ton of soccer-related mouth injuries caused by those knobby elbows and misguided soccer balls!

Mouthguards are extremely important in protecting children’s mouths during sports. So we are going to cover their importance again!

Mouthguards: Type and Purpose

There are various types of mouthguards, and not all of them are created equal! A mouthguard or mouth protector will help cushion the blow if you’re struck in the face. It can also minimize the risk of shattered teeth and other injuries to your tongue, lips, throat, and jaw.

Below, I’ll break down the various types of mouthguards to give you a better understanding of what they look like.

Custom fitted: Personally made for you by your dentist. These offer the best fit.

 

Stock: These are inexpensive and come preformed, ready to wear.

 

Boil and bite: Sold at many sporting goods stores, these offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. They are first softened in boiling water and then inserted and allowed to form to the shape of your mouth.

Get ahead of the Game!

As you can imagine, a traumatic facial injury is much worse than scheduling an appointment to fit your child for a mouthguard, and much cheaper, too!

So bring your children in to see us and properly protect their teeth with mouthguards while they’re playing sports!

Don’t wait until it’s too late!

~ Dr. Rhea Haugseth