The sports mouth guard, also known as the night guard, a bite guard, or athletic mouth protectors, are crucial pieces of equipment for any child participating in potentially injurious recreational or sporting activities in Winnipeg. Your custom fitted mouth guard fitting snugly over the upper teeth, your mouth guard protects the entire oral region from traumatic injury, preserving both the esthetic appearance and the health of the smile. In addition, mouth guards are sometimes used to prevent tooth damage in children who grind (brux) their teeth at night.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) in particular, advocates for the use of dental mouthguards during any sporting or recreational activity. By wearing a mouth guard you can prevent common dental injuries that occur during sports. Most store-bought mouth guards cost fewer than ten dollars, making them a perfect investment for every parent. These are a great option for younger children getting started or for lower-risk sports with limited physical contact.
Stock, or ready-made mouth guards, are limited in providing optimal comfort and protection against injury. In the case that you may prefer a better fit, there are “boil and bite” guards or custom-made solutions that your dentist can offer. Boil-and-bite mouth guards can be molded and adapted by heating the material and biting into it. Once cooled, the mouth guard will retain its shape. This is the most popular option chosen by amateur sportsmen.
Custom-made mouthguard options are also available which your dentist can help with creating for you. This option provides superior comfort and protection. Winnipeg Seven Oaks Dental Centre dentist and mouth specialist will create a mold using dental putty – this is called an impression. The impression is sent to a lab where it will be used by the to create the perfect mouth guard for your beautiful smile.
How can sports mouth guards protect my child?
The majority of sporting organizations now require that participants routinely wear mouth guards. Though mouth guards are primarily designed to protect the teeth, they can also vastly reduce the degree of force transmitted from a trauma impact point (jaw) to the central nervous system (base of the brain). In this way, mouth guards help minimize the risk of traumatic brain injury, which is especially important for younger children.
Sports mouth guards also reduce the prevalence of the following injuries:
- Cheek lesions
- Concussions
- Gum and soft tissue injuries
- Jawbone fractures
- Lip lesions
- Neck injuries
- Tongue lesions
- Tooth fractures