The Importance of Mouthguards in Kids Sports

With the spring sports season gearing up for kids, mouthguards are a very important piece of safety equipment that should not be forgotten.  Drs. Goldman, Taynor, Sabo and Rienecker are four expert orthodontists that serve Long Island that want to inform you about the importance of protective mouthguards and about the different types of mouthguards available.

According to the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety, an athlete is 60% more likely to incur damage to their teeth when not wearing a protective mouthguard!  A properly fitting mouthguard will help cushion the teeth, cheeks, tongue, and jaw from a serious blow to the mouth.   This is especially important if your child wears braces, as a mouthguard will help protect the soft tissue of the mouth from the metal brackets should an impact occur.

There are three types of mouthguards: stock, boil and bite, and custom.  Stock mouthguards come ready to use and don’t require any additional customization.  These are the least protective and the least expensive.  Boil and bite mouthguards are customized by the user at home by boiling the material to soften it and then biting into it to mold it to your teeth.  Boil and bite mouthguards offer more protection than stock ones, but are often bulky and cumbersome.  Custom fit mouthguards are the most expensive option of the three, but offer the best protection and the most comfort for the wearer.  In order to get a custom fit mouthguard, visit your dentist or orthodontist to get an impression done of your teeth. The impression is then sent to a dental laboratory where a mouthguard is molded directly from your impression.  Whichever mouthguard you choose, it’s better than no mouthguard at all!

If you have additional questions about mouthguards, Drs. Goldman, Taynor, Sabo and Rienecker are more than happy to answer them!  Please contact one of our three state-of-the-art, convenient locations -- Port Jefferson Station, Shirley, and Wading River -- for a free orthodontic consultation. They provide orthodontic solutions for children and adults using traditional braces, clear braces and Invisalign. You can reach us at any of our three offices:  Port Jefferson Station, NY  (631)928-2655; Shirley, NY  (631)399-1600; or Wading River, NY  (631)929-0700.  You can also find out more about our offices at www.orthosmiles4u.com.