Mouthguards: Your Child’s Best Protection During Sports

Level the playing field by avoiding costly dental injuries and surgery with a mouthguard

As a parent, your concern about preventing concussions during sports is totally understandable — but a blow to the head can also be a blow to your child’s smile. Every year, an estimated $500 million is spent repairing teeth caused by some five million sports injuries. Both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association recommend mouthguards be worn during organized athletic activities. Whether it’s team sports or unorganized games, you can help keep your son or daughter from becoming another statistic — with a custom-made plastic mouthguard that protects the teeth, head and joints from dental trauma and, yes, concussions.

Sports-related dental injuries: a numbers game

If professional athletes face as much as a 56%* chance of receiving an orofacial injury during their career, consider your child’s own chances. Kids between ages 7 and 10 are known to have the highest number of orofacial injuries from playing sports — even the “safer” ones like soccer. Basketball leads the pack, but many other activities aren’t far behind. — whether organized team sports or unorganized games. Older kids and youth are at significant risk, too. Research has shown as many as 75 percent of junior and senior high school athletes sustain a dental injury when not wearing a mouthguard.

Play it safe with a custom-made mouthguard that fits your child perfectly and precisely

With good reason, no two custom mouthguards are the same. Unlike off-the-shelf mouthguards, a customized one is made from stronger, more durable thermoplastic that outperforms the pre-fitting kind in four critical ways:

• Withstands impact much better
• Retains its shape and fit
• Thickness of material can be adjusted for grinding and clenching
• Lasts much longer

The end result is optimal safety and comfort — something that pre-made mouthguards aren’t made to provide. Make a small financial investment in your child’s smile that offers a high return on future dental health Board-certified in orthodontic medicine, Dr. Karin Grinbaum has many years of experience in New York City working with adults, youth and children. Read her bio. To learn more about Smiles + Grins Orthodontics, please explore our website. For a free consultation with Dr. Grinbaum, call 212-777-6177, email us or complete our contact form. We can create a custom-made mouthguard that’s designed to preserve your child’s teeth, smile, confidence and well-being for years to come.

* According to research cited on www.dentalcare.com.