What Parents Need to Know About Mouthguards

15 Oct What Parents Need to Know About Mouthguards

If your child is interested in playing any contact sports or participating in a rigorous activity,  they will need a good mouthguard. Mouthguards prevent damage to the teeth and soft tissues in the mouth, and they should be worn during any recreational activity that could result in injury. They are most commonly recommended for rougher sports like football or hockey. But they are also beneficial for skating, skateboarding, basketball, and martial arts. If your child participates in activities such as these, wearing a mouthguard is essential to help protect their teeth and mouth.

What Type Does My Child Need?

You will also need to decide what kind of mouthguard your child needs. A good Bernardsville, NJ dentist can make a custom-fitted mouthguard that is molded to your child’s mouth. This kind of mouthguard provides the most protection and fits the best. However, it is also the most expensive and difficult to replace.

If you want something a lot less expensive, you can always by a stock mouthguard that comes pre-molded and ready to use out of the package. It may not fit as well as other mouthguards which means it offers less protection.

If you want something in between that still provides protection, you can always purchase a boil-and-bite variety. These are softened in boiling water so they can adapt to the shape of your child’s teeth. They still won’t fit as well as a custom-fitted one but they fit better than the stock variety.

Get a Custom-Fitted Mouthguard

Are you interested in having a mouthguard fitted to your child’s mouth? Do you simply want to learn more about why these pieces of safety equipment are so essential? Contact Dr. James Kellam at Bernardsville Dental Care. He will be happy to answer any questions that you might have.