While the current craziness of this virus has sidelined sports of all levels, they will return. And if you have kids playing (or if you’re a weekend warrior yourself), they should be wearing a sports mouth guard for most of those sports. OK, maybe not golf!
When we all get back out on the fields and courts, sports mouth guards make great sense. We can make them for you at Gentle Dental. After all, we make custom-fit bite splints to treat our patients with temporomandibular joint disorder, so making great-fitting sports mouth guards is a piece of cake.
Why a mouth guard?
But mouth guards are a pain, right? It’s hard to talk to teammates about strategy, and they’re always getting in the way, right?
Not really. Plus, the American Dental Association, guardians of all things teethy, recommends that all kids have sports mouth guards. The ADA estimates that their use prevents over 200,000 oral injuries every year. The problem is — 84 percent of kids playing sports don’t wear mouth guards if they aren’t required to wear them. And dental injuries are the most common type of facial injury in sports.
All young athletes benefit from wearing a protective mouth guard. They not only save the teeth from damage, but they help protect the jaw, as well. There is some evidence that mouth guards even lessen the chances of players receiving concussions, although more research needs to be done to better understand this.
Types of mouth guards
There are three types of mouth guards: stock, boil-and-bite, and custom-made. Custom-made mouth guards are considered to be the best option, as they fit precisely and comfortably, making the child more likely to wear them in the first place.
We make custom sports mouth guards for our patients at Gentle Dental. All we do is take a quick impression and we then use it to create the mouth guard. They’re usually ready the next day, just in time for the big game!
Do you or your child need a sports mouth guard? Or is it time for your regular exam and professional cleaning with Dr. Strober, Dr. Messer, or Dr. Butcofski? Call us at (732) 549-5660 to schedule your appointment.
