Sports mouthguards

Sports Mouthguards

Smile Protection For Your Athlete

You only get one smile—why not keep it safe? If your child plays a sport, we recommend they wear a mouthguard. At Marc A. Minch, DMD, these devices are custom-made, meaning each device is individually created to fit your child’s mouth and their mouth only. When worn correctly and consistently, they can protect your child’s teeth, jaws, lips, cheeks and gums from injury so they can focus on playing the sports they love.

How Mouthguards Can Help Reduce The Risk Of Injuries

When it comes to playing sports, accidents happen. By wearing a mouthguard, you can minimize the damage done to your child. These appliances work by acting as a protective barrier for the teeth that also cushion the mouth. By absorbing an impact or force and redistributing it safely, they help reduce the likelihood of common injuries to the teeth, mouth and jaws including:

  • Knocked-out teeth: Sports mouthguards help stabilize teeth, therefore reducing the chance of a tooth becoming dislodged during a collision.
  • Chipped teeth: By absorbing the force of an impact and redistributing it, they can help prevent teeth from getting chipped or cracked.
  • Jaw injuries: By providing support to the jaw, they can help minimize jaw injuries, which can be serious.
  • Lip, cheek, tongue and gum trauma: Acting as a cushion to the mouth, sports mouthguards can help prevent cuts and bruises in these areas of the mouth.

What Sports Require A Mouthguard?

According to the CDC, sports are responsible for over 5 million mouth and tooth injuries a year. In order to keep teeth safe, we recommend that children who play contact sports, such as boxing, ice hockey, skiing, lacrosse and football, which have a higher chance of injury, wear a mouthguard. However, we may recommend investing in a sports mouthguard for your child even if they play a limited contact sport, such as soccer, basketball, baseball and more. If you have questions or concerns about if your child should wear one, don’t hesitate to ask us.

Creating Your Child’s Custom Sports Mouthguard

Making the device starts by taking a digital impression of your child’s teeth using our advanced digital scanning technology. Using special superheated plastic molded to fit your child’s smile, our team will fabricate the device using this impression. This will ensure it is tailored to meet your child’s unique smile, even if your child wears an orthodontic appliance. Before leaving our office with their new sports mouthguard, we will make sure it fits snugly and comfortably in their mouth.

Advantages Of Custom Mouthguards vs. Store Bought Mouthguards

At Marc A. Minch, DMD, we believe that personalized dental care is always better! Custom sports mouthguards offer several advantages over store-bought, or over-the-counter, ones. Some of these advantages include:

Since our custom sports mouthguards are made from a mold of your child’s teeth, we ensure a perfect fit every time. This makes them more comfortable to wear, as they conform precisely to the shape of the mouth.

Because they fit snugly, they provide superior protection against impacts, reducing the risk of dental injuries and trauma.

Made from high-quality materials, they are more durable and long-lasting, making them a better long-term investment. Store bought ones, on the other hand, are made with weaker materials and may wear out faster and need to be replaced sooner.

While initially more expensive, their durability and effectiveness can make them more cost-effective over time. Store bought options may be cheaper upfront but require more frequent replacements as well as less protection.

They can be tailored to fit specific needs, such as patients with braces and other orthodontic appliances or certain specialized sports. Custom sports mouthguards can also be customized with colors, logos, or other personal preferences to make them more fun!

Sports Mouthguards FAQs

When your child plays sports, it is natural to wonder how much protection they really need and which type of mouthguard is right for them. A properly fitted mouthguard can help protect more than just your child’s teeth during practices and games. At Marc A. Minch, DMD, we create custom sports mouthguards based on your child’s individual smile, giving them a comfortable fit they can wear with confidence. Here are answers to some common questions parents have about protecting their young athletes.

Does My Child Need A Sports Mouthguard?

If your child participates in a sport where there is a risk of contact, falls or impacts, a sports mouthguard can help protect their teeth and other parts of the mouth. Dr. Minch and our team commonly recommend them for children who play contact sports, but they can also be helpful for athletes in sports with less direct contact. A collision or fall can happen in almost any activity. During a dental visit, we can talk with you about your child’s sport and whether a custom sports mouthguard would be a good way to help protect their smile.

Sports mouthguards are especially important for activities with a higher risk of contact or impact, including football, hockey, boxing, skiing and lacrosse. However, injuries can happen in sports that involve less contact, too. Children who play soccer, basketball, baseball and other activities may also benefit from wearing one. If you are unsure whether your child’s sport calls for a mouthguard, contact our team. We can help you consider the type of activity your child participates in and the level of protection that makes sense for their smile.

A custom mouthguard is made specifically for your child’s teeth, rather than being designed to fit a wide range of mouths. At Marc A. Minch, DMD, we create custom sports mouthguards using a digital impression of your child’s teeth. This allows the finished device to fit snugly and comfortably while providing protection during sports. Store-bought options may cost less initially, but they may not offer the same fit or durability. If your child plays sports regularly, a custom mouthguard can be a worthwhile investment in protecting their smile.

There is not one replacement schedule that works for every child. Sports mouthguards can wear down over time, and children’s mouths are also constantly changing as they grow and develop. Check your child’s mouthguard regularly for signs of damage, thinning or changes in its fit. If it no longer feels comfortable or fits securely, it may be time for a new one. We can also check the fit during your child’s dental visits and let you know when a replacement may be appropriate based on their smile and the condition of the device.

Absolutely! A custom sports mouthguard can be made to accommodate orthodontic appliances, including braces. In fact, protecting your child’s teeth and the appliances they are wearing is especially important during sports where an impact could occur. Because our sports mouthguards are created from an impression of your child’s smile, we can account for their individual needs when making the device. If your child gets braces after receiving a mouthguard, let us know. Their mouthguard may need to be adjusted or replaced as their teeth move throughout treatment.

Couple with healthy teeth smiling on beach

Health-Centered Dental Care

In Southeast Florida

We are proud to provide compassionate and personalized care with a gentle touch. Dr. Minch, Dr. Newton and our team use a health-centered and prevention-based approach to give you a healthy smile with an emphasis on sleep health.

(561) 732-1777

2620 S Seacrest Blvd., Suite C & D
Boynton Beach, Florida 33435

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