How Do Sports Mouthguards Help Prevent Knocked Teeth and Injuries in Active Kids?
Sports mouthguards play an important role in protecting children’s teeth and mouths during physical activity. A properly fitted mouthguard absorbs and disperses impact, which reduces the force transferred to the teeth, jaw, and surrounding tissues during a collision or fall. This protection helps lower the risk of knocked-out teeth, fractures, chips, and injuries to the lips, cheeks, and tongue. Because children’s mouths are still developing, including a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth, preventive protection is especially important.
At Honey Bee Pediatric Dental Co., our pediatric dentists help families in Lawrence, KS, Lenexa, KS, and Prairie Village, KS choose mouthguards designed to protect growing smiles.
This Article will address
- What a sports mouthguard is and how it works
- Why mouthguards matter for active kids
- Sports that commonly require or recommend mouthguards
- Injuries mouthguards help prevent
- How to choose the right mouthguard
- Fit guidelines for real protection
- Cleaning, care, and replacement tips
What Is a Sports Mouthguard, and How Does It Protect My Child’s Teeth?
A sports mouthguard is a protective dental appliance worn over the teeth during athletic activity. Its primary purpose is to cushion the teeth and jaw during impact. When a child is hit in the mouth or falls, the mouthguard helps absorb and spread out the force, reducing the chance that the teeth or jaw absorb the full impact.
A mouthguard helps protect:
- Teeth from being chipped, cracked, or knocked out
- Gums, lips, cheeks, and tongue from cuts and bruises
- The jaw from excessive stress during contact
For children with developing mouths and mixed dentition, this protection helps safeguard both current and incoming adult teeth.
Why Are Mouthguards Important for Kids Playing Sports?
Children move quickly, and sports often involve unexpected contact, falls, or collisions. Even non-contact sports can lead to dental injuries when a child trips or collides with equipment or another player. Wearing a mouthguard helps reduce the severity of these injuries before they happen.
At Honey Bee Pediatric Dental Co., we emphasize anticipatory guidance. This means helping parents plan ahead for potential risks and take proactive steps to protect their child’s oral health. Encouraging mouthguard use builds a preventive habit that can protect a child’s smile now and in the future.
What Types of Injuries Can a Sports Mouthguard Prevent?
A sports mouthguard can help reduce the risk of several common dental and oral injuries, including:
- Knocked-out teeth, also known as avulsions
- Chipped, cracked, or fractured teeth
- Loose or displaced teeth
- Cuts and injuries to the lips, cheeks, and tongue
- Jaw stress and bite-related trauma
While no device can prevent every injury, mouthguards significantly lower the risk and severity of many sports-related dental emergencies.
Which Sports Require or Strongly Recommend Mouthguard Use for Kids?
Mouthguards are often required or strongly recommended for many youth sports, including:
- Contact sports such as football, hockey, lacrosse, wrestling, martial arts, boxing, and rugby
- High-collision or fast-moving sports like basketball, soccer, baseball, and softball
- Activities with fall or facial impact risk including skateboarding, BMX, mountain biking, gymnastics, and cheer
Even when a league does not require a mouthguard, pediatric dentists often recommend one for added protection.
How Do I Choose the Right Sports Mouthguard for My Child’s Sport?
Choosing the right mouthguard depends on several factors:
- The level of contact involved in the sport
- Your child’s age and stage of growth
- Comfort and the ability to speak and breathe easily
- Whether your child has braces or orthodontic appliances
- How often the mouthguard will need to be replaced due to growth or wear
A mouthguard that fits well and feels comfortable is more likely to be worn consistently, which is key to effective protection.
What Types of Sports Mouthguards Are Available for Kids?
There are three main types of sports mouthguards commonly available:
- Stock mouthguards, which come pre-formed and offer the least customized fit
- Boil-and-bite mouthguards, which are softened in hot water and shaped at home
- Custom mouthguards, which are made by a dental professional to fit your child’s mouth
Custom mouthguards typically provide the best fit, comfort, and level of protection, especially for growing children and those with braces.
How Should a Sports Mouthguard Fit to Be Effective?
For a mouthguard to work properly, fit is critical. A well-fitting mouthguard should:
- Stay in place without your child needing to bite down
- Cover the teeth and gums comfortably
- Have smooth edges without sharp areas
- Allow normal breathing and speaking
- Not cause gagging or discomfort
- Be designed to safely accommodate braces if needed
If a mouthguard feels loose or uncomfortable, it may not provide adequate protection.
How Do I Clean and Care for My Child’s Sports Mouthguard?
Proper care helps keep a mouthguard clean and effective:
- Rinse it with cool water after each use
- Brush gently with mild soap or toothpaste
- Store it in a ventilated case to allow it to dry
- Avoid heat sources such as hot water or car dashboards
- Inspect regularly for tears, cracks, or distortion
Mouthguards should be replaced as your child grows, if they show signs of wear, or when orthodontic changes occur.
Protect Your Child’s Smile During Sports
Sports mouthguards are a simple yet powerful way to help prevent knocked-out teeth and other oral injuries in active kids. By choosing the right mouthguard and ensuring proper fit and care, parents can reduce the risk of dental emergencies and protect their child’s developing smile.
Honey Bee Pediatric Dental Co. proudly serves families in Lawrence, KS, Lenexa, KS, and Prairie Village, KS. Call either location today to schedule a dental consultation for your child.
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- American Dental Association
