Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Cincinnati Children's Blog
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
HOME/Safety and Prevention/Should My Child Wear A Mouthguard When Playing Sports?

Should My Child Wear A Mouthguard When Playing Sports?

Should My Child Wear A Mouthguard When Playing Sports?
August 11, 2022
0 Comments
By: Sarat Thikkurissy, DDS

As sports become more competitive and physical, parents often ask me if their kids should wear mouthguards. The short answer is, it depends on the sport – but when in doubt, wear it!

The cost of losing a tooth can be detrimental to a child, especially when social peers can be unforgiving of anything ‘not normal.’ Not to mention the expense of replacing a tooth could take a significant financial toll on families.


BENEFITS OF MOUTHGUARDS

Mouthguards protect the teeth and gums, reducing the likelihood of dental and facial injuries. In addition, they may also serve to protect from serious after-effects from concussions, as well as reduce clenching of the teeth and provide stabilization for the head and neck muscles.  There is also research to suggest that a properly-fitted mouthguard can enhance athletic performance, including speed, strength and balance.

While some sports require mouthguards, like football and boxing, others strongly recommend it for sports like basketball and lacrosse. If your kids play a ball or contact sport where trauma could occur to the face, I think all athletes should wear them. For instance, if your kids play goalie in soccer, wear a mouthguard – chances are, they could get a ball or foot to the face when protecting the goal.  

TYPES OF MOUTHGUARDS

There are several types of mouthguards available, listed in order of effectiveness:

  1. Custom-made mouthguards

    These are typically made by dentists, and provide close fit, absorption, and redistribution of stress from impact. These are the most effective at providing protection to the gums and teeth, and can range in cost based on the dental practice and insurance coverage.

  2. Boil and bite mouthguards

    These can be bought in drug stores and just like it sounds, can be somewhat shaped to the mouth by boiling them in hot water. They offer some protection, but are not as effective as custom-made mouthguards.

  3. Stock mouthguards

    These can be bought online or in sporting goods stores and are even less effective than boil and bite mouthguards. This is because they do not adapt to a child’s mouth, but rather, come in predetermined sizes. However, wearing these is better than wearing nothing at all.

HOW TO CHOOSE A MOUTHGUARD

If you choose to purchase a mouthguard that is not custom made, here are some things you should look for:

  1. A snug fit on teeth
  2. Coverage of the gums
  3. Extension to the back teeth
  4. Ability to easily speak and breathe
  5. A strap that affixes to a helmet can help keep track of them – but not a requirement!
Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Related Articles

How Important Are Baby Teeth?
How Important Are Baby Teeth?
Need-to-Know Info about Wisdom Tooth Removal
Need-to-Know Info about Wisdom Tooth Removal
Winter Sports Injuries: What You Need to Know
Winter Sports Injuries: What You Need to Know
5 Things to Consider When Kids Break or Fracture A Bone
5 Things to Consider When Kids Break or Fracture A Bone
TAGS:
  • dentistry
  • Home
  • sports injuries
Avatar photo

About the author: Sarat Thikkurissy, DDS

S.Thikkurissy DDS, MS, is the Robert Creedon Endowed Chief of Dentistry. He obtained his DDS degree from New York University and his certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and Masters in Science from The Ohio State University. He can be reached at sarat.thikkurissy@cchmc.org

Write A Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

No Comments Yet

Topics

  • Cancer and Blood Diseases
  • Child Development and Behavior
  • Childhood Obesity
  • Chronic Care Networks
  • Cincinnati Walks for Kids
  • Featured Faces
  • Fetal Conditions
  • Fitness and Nutrition
  • Food Allergies
  • Ghana 2012
  • Health Care Public Policy
  • Health Care Quality
  • Health Care Reform
  • Healthy Living
  • Heart Conditions
  • Hospital Operations
  • How We Do It
  • Learning and Growing
  • Meet The Team
  • Nurses Week 2012
  • Patient Family Experience
  • Patient Flow
  • Patient Safety
  • Patient Stories
  • Pin of the Week
  • Radiology
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Research
  • Research and Discoveries
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Share Your Story
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • Vaccines
  • Volunteerism
  • What Makes Us Different
  • What's New
See All Topics
See Less Topics

Subscribe

Never miss a post! Sign up to get new blog updates delivered to your email.

Popular Posts

  • 6 Questions to Ask When Your Child Complains of Chest Pain 1.9k views
  • Caring for the Caregivers of Children with Congenital Heart Disease  1.3k views
  • Stuttering In Young Kids: When To Be Concerned 812 views
  • Laryngomalacia: Is My Child’s Noisy Breathing Serious? 618 views
  • 4 Questions to Ask When Your Child Has Recurrent Croup 544 views
  • What’s the difference between a CAT-Scan and a CT-Scan? 492 views
About

The Cincinnati Children’s blog features thoughts and perspectives from our experts on all things pediatric health. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn More »

Contact Us
  • 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026
  • 1-513-636-4200 | 1-800-344-2462
  • TTY: 1-513-636-4900
  • socialmedia@cchmc.org
Connect With Us
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us

© 2009-2022 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center