Save your child’s teeth from sports injuries - with help from Absolute Dental

If, like me, you are the parent of sporty children, you will have found yourselves worrying about protecting their bodies whilst playing their favourite sports: from helmets to shin pads, life jackets to body armours, I have purchased them all.

But have you considered the necessity of protecting your child’s teeth as they play?

At Absolute Dental we recommend the use of a mouth guard to all children who are active in sports.

If your little one plays rugby, football, hockey or any contact sport, ask your dentist about a custom made mouth guard.

 

 

They are made of soft plastic and fit comfortably over the upper teeth protecting not only your child’s teeth but also their cheeks and lips.

In order for a reputable dental laboratory to produce a custom made guard, your dentist will need to take an impression of your child’s upper teeth in a soft squeegee material which sets very quickly.

The mouth guard will usually be ready to fit and wear within a few days, ready to guard your little one from rogue balls, bats and elbows.

Some mouth guards are widely available from sports shops and online, they all require “moulding” on the teeth after a few seconds in boiling water, from experience they are almost always ill-fitting, uncomfortable and will ultimately rub a sore spot somewhere on the gum.

As my eldest son said: “I would rather break my teeth than wear that thing!” (he is such an angel!).

This is why we recommend a guard that is made just for him or her, that will be comfortable and effective.

The mouth guard is easy to care for, only needs to be cleaned after use and kept away from heat sources to retain its shape.

Your dentist can also check the mouth guard at your child’s regular visits.

According to Colgate, thousands of children are treated for preventable injuries every year in the UK, most of these involved front teeth. Also over 150.000 injuries to teeth and mouths are prevented every year by the use of a mouth guard.

Of course mouth guards are not just for children, we also recommend them for adults. We recently made a guard for a lady hockey player who had never worn one before but was horrified to see one of her team mates injured on the pitch.

This is a very worthwhile small investment to make which will keep you and your little one having fun out there!

Please ask the Team if you have any more questions or would like to make an appointment.

Melanie