Are mouth guards necessary when playing sports?

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As the weather is changing here in Texas, so is the new sport’s season coming upon us. It’s spring, and before you know it, it is going to be summer, and this turning of the season means warmer weather and more kid’s activities, such as sports. When a new sport’s season comes around, that entails that it is time to run errands and pick up all of your child’s necessary sports equipment. And what is one of the most important pieces of “equipment” that you should have on your pick-up list? A sports mouth guard.

Some people find that a sports mouth guard is unnecessary. But they may think twice if they knew about how many sport’s related dental injuries can potentially happen per year. Wearing a mouth guard prevents more than 200,000 oral injuries every year, according to the American Dental Association.  As a parent, our number one goal is keeping our children safe, and that means their teeth as well. In the long term, protecting their smile with a sports mouth guard could save them a lot of pain and trauma, and could save you a lot of time and money.

Why is wearing a mouth guard so important?

84 percent of children do not wear mouth guards while playing sports because it is not a requirement placed in order by those in charge. Yet, ironically, dental injuries are of the most common type of facial injuries in sports. Although other safety and protective gear are required, many of times, mouth guards are not. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have your child wearing one. Not only do mouth guards protect your child’s teeth and smile, but they also help to protect their jaw. While so many sports pose a threat to jaw and oral injury, it is curious as to why more kids aren’t wearing mouth guards during sports activity.

Sometimes children are hesitant to wear a mouth guard because they find them slightly uncomfortable. Over time, your child will grow used to having their mouth guard in and will eventually likely not even notice it. There are different options when it comes to picking out a mouth guard for your child, from store bought mouth guards, to custom fit mouth guards that you can have made by your dentist in Irving. Not only are custom made mouth guards much more comfortable, but they are actually the most protective in terms of your options.

When it comes to the question as to whether or not you or child should be wearing a mouth guard during organized sports activities, the answer is yes. If you have more questions about mouth guards in Irving, here at Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, we can help. Our caring team will be happy to help answer any questions you may have about you and your family’s oral and dental health. Contact us today and let us do what we do to keep you and your family smiling.