Sports mouth guards for children

Why should a child wear a mouth guard for sports?

A mouth guard spreads the force of a blow across the teeth and jaw, so a hit that might have broken or knocked out a front tooth is absorbed by the guard. It also keeps the lips and cheeks from being cut against the teeth and cushions the lower jaw when it’s driven up into the upper teeth.

Children are especially exposed. Their permanent front teeth arrive around age six to eight and stay prominent for years, and a child who loses one may face years of temporary fixes before a permanent replacement is possible as the jaw finishes growing.

Many youth leagues now require mouth guards for contact sports. Even where they’re optional, wearing one every practice makes it a habit that holds when games get competitive.

What types of mouth guards are there?

Mouth guards come in three types, and the main difference between them is fit. A guard that fits well stays in place, lets a child talk and breathe, and actually gets worn. Ask at your child’s next visit which type suits the sport and the season.

• Stock guards come ready to wear in a few sizes. They’re inexpensive but bulky and loose, and they tend to end up in a pocket.
• Boil-and-bite guards are softened in hot water and molded by biting down. They fit better than stock guards and are a reasonable choice for many young athletes.
• Custom guards are made by a dentist from a model of the teeth. They fit closely, stay put and are the most comfortable to talk and breathe in.

Which sports and activities call for a mouth guard?

Any sport with a ball, a stick, a fall or another player calls for a mouth guard. Football, hockey, lacrosse, boxing, martial arts and wrestling come to mind first, but many dental injuries in children happen in sports where guards are less common.

Basketball brings elbows close to faces under the basket. Baseball and softball put a hard ball in the air near the mouth. Soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, skateboarding, skating and biking all carry a real chance of a fall face-first.

Children in braces need protection even more, since a blow can cut the lips on the brackets. Ask about a guard designed to fit over orthodontic hardware. Clear aligners aren’t built to absorb an impact and should be swapped for a proper sports guard during play.

How do you care for a mouth guard, and when should it be replaced?

Care for a mouth guard by keeping it clean, dry and away from heat, and replace it as soon as it’s worn, torn or no longer fits snugly. Growing children often outgrow a guard in a season or two, especially while teeth are coming in.

• Rinse it with cool water before and after each use.
• Brush it gently with a toothbrush and mild soap now and then.
• Store it in a sturdy, vented case so it can dry.
• Keep it out of hot cars and direct sun, which warp the plastic.
• Don’t let your child chew on it or share it with teammates.
• Bring it to checkups so the fit can be looked at.

What should you do if your child injures a tooth while playing?

If a permanent tooth is knocked out, act within minutes and call us at (618) 624-2800 right away. Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root, rinse it briefly with milk or water if it’s dirty, and try to set it back in its socket with your child biting gently on a cloth. If that isn’t possible, keep it in a cup of milk and come straight in.

A knocked-out baby tooth should not be put back, since that can harm the adult tooth forming underneath, but your child should still be seen. For a chipped or loosened tooth, save any pieces and call. Our page on dental emergencies covers other injuries, and a hit to the head with confusion or vomiting needs the emergency room first.

To keep an eye on how teeth and guard fit together, keep up with your child’s regular checkups.