Mouth Guards and Oral Health

Mouth guards, also known as sports guards or athletic mouth protectors, are crucial pieces of equipment for any child participating in potentially injurious recreational or sporting activities.  Fitting snugly over the upper teeth, they protect the entire oral region from traumatic injury, preserving both the aesthetic appearance and the health of the smile.  In addition, they are sometimes used to prevent tooth damage in children who grind (bruxism) their teeth at night.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) in particular, advocates for the use of dental mouth guards during any sporting or recreational activity.  Most store-bought guards cost fewer than ten dollars, making them a perfect investment for every parent.

How can mouth guards protect my child?

The majority of sporting organizations now require that participants routinely wear mouth guards.  Though mouth guards are primarily designed to protect the teeth, they can also vastly reduce the degree of force transmitted from a trauma impact point (jaw) to the central nervous system (base of the brain).  In this way, mouth guards help minimize the risk of traumatic brain injury, which is especially important for younger children.

Mouth guards also reduce the prevalence of the following injuries:

• Cheek lesions
• Concussions
• Gum and soft tissue injuries
• Jawbone fractures
• Lip lesions
• Neck injuries
• Tongue lesions
• Tooth fractures

What type of mouthguard should I purchase for my child?

Though there are literally thousands of mouthguard brands, most brands fall into three major categories: stock, boil and bite, and customized.

Some points to consider when choosing a mouthguard to include:

• How much money is available to spend?
• How often does the child play sports?
• What kind of sport does the child play? (Basketball and baseball tend to cause the most oral injuries).

In light of these points, here is an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of mouthguard:

Stock mouth guards – These mouth guards can be bought directly off the shelf and immediately fitted into the child’s mouth.  The fit is universal (one-size-fits-all), meaning that the mouth guard doesn’t adjust.  They tend to be very cheap, easy to fit, and quick to locate at sporting goods stores.  Pediatric dentists favor this type of mouthguard least, as it provides minimal protection, obstructs proper breathing and speaking, and tends to be uncomfortable.

Boil and bite mouth guards – These mouth guards are usually made from thermoplastic and are easily located at most sporting goods stores.  First, the thermoplastic must be immersed in hot water to make it pliable, and then it must be pressed on the child’s teeth to create a custom mold.  Boil and bite guards are slightly more expensive than stock guards but tend to offer more protection, feel more comfortable in the mouth, and allow for easy speech production and breathing.

Customized mouth guards – These offer the greatest degree of protection and are custom-made by the dentist.  First, the dentist makes an impression of the child’s teeth using a special material, and then the mouthguard is constructed over the mold.  Customized guards are more expensive and take longer to fit, but are more comfortable, orthodontically correct, and fully approved by the dentist.

If you have questions or concerns about choosing a mouthguard for your child, please contact your dentist at Manyak Dental Group at (650) 342-9941.