Well, we’re all certainly mad about March here. All that basketball, the temperatures rising, outdoor sports coming to life… All together, here at Westerville Pediatric Dental we also think about mouth guards. Custom fitted mouth guards for your kids as they start to pound the pavement, the court, the field… They’re out for first place, but they also run the risk of damaging their teeth and jaws in almost any collision.
Currently, the U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association requires the use of mouth guards only for ice hockey, lacrosse, field hockey, and football. However, the American Dental Association recommends the use of a mouth guard for more than 29 sports/exercise activities! We could list them, but if you can imagine a physical activity your children can participate in, it’s likely on the list. Essentially, whenever there’s a chance of contact with other players or hard surfaces, wearing a mouth guard makes sense.
Mouth guards, generally, absorb impacts that could go straight to the jaw or skull, preventing more severe injury and sometimes concussions. This is why a properly-fitting mouth guard is essential. We suggest you visit our office so that we can take measurements and make an impression of your child’s mouth. This way, your mouth guard can be created in the lab to the exact specifications of your child’s teeth.
At Westerville Pediatric Dental, we are confident that when your child wears one of our guards, his or her teeth will be protected from the majority of dental injuries that occur when playing sports. Call our office today to see what the options are!
