At Rockland Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics, we know that brushing and flossing are not the only healthy habits in your child’s life. Along with eating healthy foods and staying hydrated, physical activity has a huge impact on kids’ health and happiness.
Sports offer lessons in teamwork and problem-solving and boosts self-esteem. And, when kids head out to the field or the gym, it can be easy to forget a very important piece of sports gear — a mouth guard!
How Can a Mouth Guard Help Keep My Child’s Smile Healthy?
Almost a third of dental injuries among children occur during athletic activities. And while sports like football, ice hockey, field hockey and lacrosse usually require players to wear mouthguards, injuries can be even more common in sports that do not — think basketball, baseball, skating, biking and gymnastics.
A mouth guard typically covers the upper teeth and helps to cushion a blow to the face. This protects teeth from being chipped, broken or knocked out. It can also protect softer tissues like the tongue, lips and cheeks. Mouth guards are especially important for athletes who have braces, as they not only protect the brackets and wires, but also create a barrier between the braces and the inside of your cheeks and lips.
How Can I Choose the Best Mouth Guard for My Child?
Dental injuries from sports often require emergency medical care, and long-term treatment for a damaged tooth can be costly. It is well worth the investment of time and money to find a well-fitting mouth guard that will last.
While there are many mouth guards available “over-the-counter” at sporting goods stores and pharmacies, these one-size-fits-all options are often bulky and do not fit well. Boil-and-bite mouthguards offer a more fitted option that can be more comfortable and offer better protection, but even these tend to not fit well.
The BEST choice for an athletic mouth guard is a custom-fitted guard made specifically for your child by a pediatric dentist. Our pediatric dentists here at Rockland Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics have the expertise to fit your child or teen for a mouth guard that will provide them with the best protection possible, so they can focus on doing what they love!
Schedule An Appointment
To make an appointment with Dr. Dorit Hermann, Dr. Anne Chaly and Dr. Clarissa Marcovich and learn more about sports mouth guards in New City, New York, call us today at 845-634-8900!