Is Nitrous Oxide Safe?
Make your child's next dental visit a breeze with nitrous oxide sedation. This safe and effective sedation option ensures your little one can relax and have a stress-free appointment.
6 Mouth Injuries That a Custom Mouthguard Protects Against
An estimated 13-39% of dental injuries occur when playing sports. Imagine your child sprinting down the soccer field, and suddenly, there's a collision. A custom mouthguard can be the difference between a quick recovery and a trip to the dentist.
Custom mouthguards mold perfectly to your child’s teeth, so they not only provide a perfect fit but also offer superior protection against various mouth injuries that can occur during sports or physical activities. The compassionate and experienced team at My Kidz Dentist in Phoenix, Arizona, shares six common mouth injuries that a custom mouthguard helps prevent.
1. Broken or chipped teeth
A sudden impact or collision can easily crack or chip a tooth, leading to pain and costly dental repairs. Children commonly experience broken teeth from sports injuries.
Custom mouthguards act like a shock absorber for your child’s teeth, making it much less likely they'll suffer from a broken or chipped tooth.
2. Lip and cheek injuries
It isn’t just teeth you need to worry about—other parts of the mouth are at risk, too. Falling on the ground or getting hit in the face by somebody’s elbow or a ball can cause your child to bite their tongue, lips, or cheeks.
A custom mouthguard acts as a buffer between the teeth and these soft tissues, preventing the teeth from cutting into these sensitive areas and minimizing the chance of lacerations and bruising.
3. Jaw fractures
Not as common as a broken tooth or soft tissue injury, a blow to the lower face can result in a broken jaw. Jaw fractures often require surgical intervention.
You can help your child avoid the severe injury by having them wear a custom mouthguard to absorb the force of an impact, distributing it evenly across the jaw and helping to prevent fractures.
4. Knocked-out teeth
A knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency that can lead to long-term issues if not addressed quickly. When your child wears a snugly fit custom mouthguard, it keeps the teeth in place even during a hard hit to reduce the likelihood of the teeth being knocked out entirely.
5. Protecting braces from harm
Braces can cause additional injuries if the mouth is hit because the brackets and wires can cut into the cheeks and gums.
A custom mouthguard fits comfortably over orthodontic work, protecting the mouth from these sharp edges during impact. This helps keep your child’s smile safe and healthy, even during rough play.
6. Preventing tongue injuries
The tongue is another vulnerable area that often gets injured during physical activities. Biting down hard on the tongue can lead to painful cuts or punctures.
A custom mouthguard keeps the teeth slightly apart, reducing the risk of accidental tongue injuries and making physical activity safer for your child.
Why choose a custom mouthguard?
As parents, we all want to see our kids thrive in their favorite activities. You don’t want a fun game to end with a dental emergency.
A custom mouthguard provides peace of mind, knowing that your child's smile is protected. Investing in a custom mouthguard is an investment in your child’s long-term oral health.
Call our office, or book an appointment online today for a custom mouthguard for your child.
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