Sports Mouth Guard

At the office of Brent J. Porter D.D.S., we have an opportunity to prevent injury! Active children are healthy children, but recreation and sports can present a threat to your child's oral health. Athletic mouth guards can help protect your child's teeth from a knee, elbow, ball, racket, or just about any other object flying toward his or her face. For maximum effectiveness, a sports mouth guard should fit well and be properly cleaned between usages.

As many as 39 percent of dental injuries are caused by sports and high-impact activities. Americans spend more than a half billion dollars annually to replace teeth! Unfortunately, five million of those teeth are knocked out in accidents – many of which could have been saved had the patient been wearing adequate mouth and tooth protection. A mouth guard is an essential part of your child’s athletic gear. It should be established as a standard piece of their equipment from an early age. At the office of Brent J. Porter D.D.S., your Santa Cruz Children’s Dentist, we specialize in custom fitted multi-laminated mouthguards.

If your child wears braces, a properly fitted mouth guard is extremely important. A blow to the mouth could break off the brackets and cause injury to the cheek and lips. A mouth guard provides the necessary barrier between the braces and soft tissues of the mouth. Does my child need a custom sports mouth guard?

Your child should use a mouth guard if he or she participates in any type of contact sporting activity. From martial arts and basketball to hockey and football, a sports mouth guard could save your child's teeth from serious trauma or even total loss. While contact sports are higher risk for dental injury, do not rule out non-contact activities and the need for protection. An athlete who does gymnastics, skateboarding or surfing can experience an injury to the mouth as well.

How will my child be fit for a mouth guard?

An impression will be taken of your child's teeth, which will be used to produce a custom mouth guard. The guard will be made of superior quality materials that are designed to last long-term. In fact, your child will probably outgrow his or her guard before it needs to be replaced.

How should a mouth guard be cared for at home?

You will need to clean and dry your mouth guard between uses. Here are some tips on caring for your mouthguard and making sure it is always ready to go.

Rinse in cold water only before and after each use.
Brush with a softened toothbrush and toothpaste.
Always dry it and store it in a protective case.
Bring your mouthguard for an evaluation at your regular dental visits. We would be happy to give it a thorough cleaning.
Store and transport the mouthguard in a sturdy container that has vents so it can stay dry and keep bacteria from growing.
Never leave the mouthguard in the sun or in hot water.
Check fit and for signs of wear and tear to see if it needs replacing.
Some mouth guards have fallen victim to family pets, who see them as chew toys. Store your mouthguard and case somewhere your pet cannot get to it.

As your child grows, the mouth guard will need to be replaced to accommodate a better fit. To learn more about custom multi-laminated sports mouth guards, please contact our friendly team today to schedule a visit with Brent J. Porter D.D.S., Santa Cruz Pediatric Dentist at (831) 459-9802. We look forward in hearing from you!