Athletic Mouthguards in Olympia, WA
We love our athletic patients and want to help you protect their mouths, braces, and teeth from injury during play. An athletic mouthguard does just that! Anyone who participates in sports needs to invest in a mouthguard to keep their smile safe.
DID YOU KNOW?
An athlete is 60 times more likely to suffer harm to the teeth when not wearing a mouthguard.
Where to Find a Child’s Athletic Mouthguard
There are many different types of athletic mouthguards available. Choose from either a standard or boil-and-bite mouthguard, available at a sporting goods store or online, or a custom mouthguard made by your children’s dentist.
Standard or ready-made mouthguards are better than no mouthguard at all. However, they’re less comfortable and offer less protection than fitted guards.
With boil-and-bite athletic mouthguards, simply follow the product’s instructions for customizing the fit to your child’s bite. You’ll boil the mouthguard in water to soften the material, then your child will bite down on it to form an impression of their teeth. After the guard cools, it will be ready to use.
For a custom-made mouthguard, we’ll take a dental impression first. Then, a mouthguard will be fabricated to fit precisely against your child’s teeth and gums. We can make athletic mouthguards in a child’s favorite colors or the colors of their team’s uniform.
Children’s Mouthguards for Sports
You may think that only kids who play soccer, football, ice and field hockey, rugby, and other high-contact sports should wear a mouthguard. While this assumption is true, mouthguards protect the mouth, cheeks, lips, and gums in other sports, as well.
The American Dental Association suggests that an athletic mouthguard also be worn during practices and competitions in these sports:
- Acrobatics and gymnastics
- Basketball
- Handball
- Lacrosse
- Martial arts
- Racquetball
- Skateboarding
- Skiing
- Squash
- Surfing
- Volleyball
- Water polo
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling
62% of sports-related injuries occur during practice rather than games.
Mouthguard Care and Replacement
Mouths are filled with bacteria, and a moist, bacteria-riddled environment can cause mouthguards to grow more bacteria, and even mold when stored without being cleaned. To keep your child’s mouthguard clean, healthy, and odor-free, it should be washed in soapy water, rinsed, dried, and stored in the provided container between uses.
You will need to replace an athletic mouthguard when it no longer fits properly or when it’s damaged. Athletes like to chew on mouthguards between plays, but doing so can damage the material. Chewing causes dents, misshapenness, and sharp edges that can scratch soft oral tissues and alter the fit.
Keep Your Child’s Mouth Protected
If your little one, school-aged kiddo, or teenager plays sports, they need a mouthguard. We can help you decide which type of guard is best for your child. If a dental or oral injury occurs, please call us for an emergency appointment. We’re here for you! Contact our children’s dental office in Olympia today to schedule an appointment.
