Many dental injuries and emergencies occur as a result of athletic activities. Here at Daghlian Pediatric Dentistry & Sokolowski Orthodontics, we want your child to feel completely confident and enjoy themselves while they play sports. We are pleased to offer sports dentistry to protect your child’s smile and give you greater peace of mind during your child’s activities.
Protecting Your Child’s Smile
Athletic mouth guards, also known as sports mouth guards or just sports guards, are an important piece of equipment in many extracurricular activities. They are required equipment for high contact athletic activities such as:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Hocky
- Rugby
- Soccer
- Wresting
- And more!
A sports guard is also beneficial and recommended for children who participate in individual athletic activities or lower contact sports.
These mouth guards work to protect your child’s teeth, jaw and soft oral tissues from sustaining damage such as knocked-out or chipped teeth or cuts to the tongue, lips cheeks and gums.
Types of Athletic Mouth Guards
There are three types of athletic mouth guards available for your child:
- Stock Mouth Guards
A stock mouth protector is preformed and comes ready for your child to wear. This type of mouth guard can be purchased at most sports goods stores and are less expensive than other types. However, these guards can’t be adjusted and often make breathing and speaking difficult. They also offer minimal protection for your child’s teeth.
- Boil and Bite Mouth Guards
Boil and bite mouth guards can also be purchased at most sports goods stores. This type of mouth guard works by being softened with hot water and then fitted to your child’s teeth using finger and tongue pressure. This can be done easily at home using instructions provided with the purchase of the appliance. A boil and bite mouth guard offers slightly more protection for your child’s teeth and smile than a stock mouth guard.
- Custom Mouth Guards
Custom-made sports guards are the gold standard in protecting your child’s teeth during athletic activities. They are by far the best option available, and are provided by our pediatric dentist to ensure that your child receives the highest possible quality of oral appliance. A custom mouth guard is individually designed using impressions taken in our office. They are more expensive and time-consuming to create, but offer comprehensive protection and are significantly more comfortable to wear. A custom guard will also facilitate better breaking while your child plays and can help prevent neck injury.
Dr. Rita Daghlian will review your child’s options for athletic mouth guards with you during their appointment so that you can make an informed decision and find the type of mouth guard right for your child’s needs.
Schedule An Appointment Today!
We invite you to call us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Daghlian and find out more about the benefits of sports mouth guards in Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, California. We look forward to helping you protect your child’s smile!