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3 Summer Sports that Require a Mouth Guard
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Posted on 5/20/2015 by Cynthia Pelley |
 Summer is a time for sports and fun, but it is also a time to worry about your child's oral health. While sports are a great way to encourage being active and having fun, they can pose a great danger to your child's teeth. This does not mean that you should avoid having your child play in his favorite sport; it simply means that you should come in and get him fitted for a mouth guard.
There are several types of mouth guards available, some of which are available over-the-counter at your favorite drug store; however, those mouth guards do not provide the same level of protection as those that we provide. When you come in for a custom mouth guard, it is made specifically for the shape and size of your child's mouth enabling you to have a mouth guard that you know will protect your child's teeth, rather than one that might fit, but not quite right. That too loose or too tight mouth guard might not fit right when your child falls, negating its effectiveness.
Baseball
Baseball is a favorite pastime as it should be; it is America's favorite sport after all, but it is also a very dangerous sport for your child's teeth. Any sport with a ball poses a risk, but baseball is an excessive risk because of the size of the ball and the speed at which it can come at your child's mouth. Not only that, there is a serious risk of your child getting hit in the mouth with a bat, especially if he is on a team with a lot of newcomers that are not used to the rules regarding not swinging a bat when someone else is around. All it takes is one knock in the mouth to loose several teeth - even permanent teeth. Instead of facing that risk, let you child where a mouth guard during the game to protect his teeth.
Skateboarding or Biking
Riding a bike up and down your street might not be too dangerous to your child's mouth, but if he skateboards or rides his bike for a hobby, such as on the ramps that are provided at public parks, a mouth guard is highly suggested. These ramps and trails can make it very easy for your child to fall face first onto the surface. Even if he is wearing a helmet, his mouth is not protected, which means that he could knock a tooth out completely or break one, which could result in the need for a dental crown or depending on the severity of the break, it might need to be completely removed.
Soccer
You might not think of soccer as a contact sport because there is no tackling, but soccer players can get rough. As players are fighting over the ball, elbows can get thrust in your child's face, which can knock his teeth out of place. In addition, especially if he plays goalie, the ball can knock him right in the mouth. This is common for the younger soccer players, but is just as much of a risk for your older soccer players that play goalie. Wearing a mouth guard simply protects your child's mouth while he plays soccer whether you think he is in danger or not.
If you are worried about your child's teeth this summer, come on in and get him fitted for a mouth guard. There is no harm in wearing one and it is not totally obvious until he opens his mouth. In the end, it protects his mouth from unnecessary damage, which could mean protecting his permanent teeth - you only have one chance at those teeth, so let's start out protecting them right away!
Call us today for your child's appointment to get fitted for a mouth guard! Call (503) 235-0313! |
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