Summer is coming! This means that children will spend more time playing football, baseball, basketball and other sports outdoors. Exercise has many benefits for heart health, but exercise can also cause serious tooth damage. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), 10-20% of all sports-related injuries are maxillofacial (related to the lower jaw and oral soft tissue).

We recommend that children of all ages wear a protective cover to protect their pearly whites during this summer and throughout the year.

The benefits of tooth care

The mouth guard helps to relieve facial impact and reduces the risk of broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue and chin. It is estimated that if athletes do not wear a mouthguard, their teeth are 60 times more likely to be injured.

There are 3 different types of mouth guards:

• Custom fit - custom made by your dentist.
• Stock - pre-formed and ready to wear.
• Boiling and biting - must first soften (boil) and then form (bite).

The best mouth guards are custom made by the dentist, allowing athletes to breathe, talk and drink easily. However, any form of dental protection is better than nothing, especially when replanting teeth and subsequent dental treatments are cheaper!

Athlete using a mouth guard

The ADA recommends that athletes of all ages (including professional players!) use a mouth guard to prevent tooth fracture, avulsion or dislocation. Although the kids may not think the mouthpieces are cool, they found LeBron James of the Miami Heat, Corey McIntyre of the Buffalo Bills, Stephen Currie of the Golden State Warriors and the Washington Redskins. When Pierre Gakan is wearing a mouthguard, you may shake them!