Australian’s love to play sport, generally we start playing some type of sport when we are quite young. Many of these sports have strict rules in places when it comes to safety. Without the use of safety equipment such as helmets, shin pads or the proper footwear children may not be able to play. One of the main pieces of safety equipment that is often overlooked is the mouthguard.
Wearing a mouthguard can help solve a plethora of problems. However, many parents do not see the need for their child to wear one, or due to peer pressure your child may refuse to wear their mouthguard. At the end of the day, if your child is playing a contact sport, a mouthguard should be mandatory.
Why a Mouthguard Is Important
Whenever your child engages in a sporting activity, particularly a contact sport, they run the risk of damaging their teeth. Without a mouthguard your child may suffer a tooth fracture, displacement or even have a tooth knocked out. While this may not seem like a big deal to some, it can cause problems as your child later grows and develops their adult teeth.
Soft tissue injuries are also quite common when a mouthguard is not being worn, Teeth are sharp objects, so in the unfortunate event that a hard ball hits your child in the mouth or your child falls over there is a high chance that his or her teeth can go through their lip or badly bite their tongue. A mouthguard is designed to take the impact of any hits to the mouth and evenly distribute the force across all teeth so that your child’s teeth, tongue and jaw are protected.
What is a Mouthguard Made Of?
A sports mouth guard is made from thin pieces of plastic that are fitted specifically to protect each tooth. There are many different types of mouthguards available on the market, it would be best to consult with a dental specialist about what mouthguard would work best for your child. Many sporting stores will sell boil and bite mouthguards, however, these will do very little to protect your child’s teeth.
How Often Is a New Mouthguard Needed?
As your child grows, their teeth will grow and change as well. It is recommended that you visit your dentist yearly to ensure your current mouthguard fits perfectly. If not, your dentist will be able to make a new one.
How to Look After Your Mouthguard
Looking after your child’s mouthguard is quite easy and doesn’t require too much maintenance. It is important to make sure you wash the mouthguard after every use with warm water and soap or toothpaste.
Only use warm water as hot or boiling water change the shape of the mouthguard. For that reason is it also important to make sure you keep the mouthguard out of the sun or away from excessive heat. It is also important to make sure you keep any mouthguards in their protective case.
>Fixing a dental injury can be quite expensive and traumatic for a child. Ensure they have all of the correct protective gear before playing any sport. Teeth unfortunately don’t grow back, once they are gone they are gone forever, give your kids the best chance at having a perfect smile and make sure they always wear a mouthguard.
Contact Aesthetic Denture Clinic on (02) 4655 4438 today to enquire about fitting a protective mouthguard for your child.
