Your child comes to you asking to play hockey this season. What’s the first thing that goes through your mind? The amount of equipment required? The early ice times, sitting in the freezing arena? The away games on the weekends? Definitely.
But another important issue is safety. We all think about helmets and the safety of our children’s heads, but you also need to think about mouth and dental safety.
Mouth guards are the standard way that athletes protect their mouths and teeth from a direct hit injury. Even with face masks on helmets, it’s definitely worth considering the purchase of a mouth guard for your future little Wayne Gretzky or Hayley Wickenheiser.
What is a mouth guard?
A mouth guard is a protective device for the mouth that covers the teeth and gums to prevent and reduce injury to the teeth, arches, lips and gums.
It is not entirely different from a night guard, designed to stop or alleviate bruxism (or nighttime teeth grinding) but they aren’t exactly the same: a night guard is made to prevent grinding. A sports mouth guard is usually designed of thicker material and goes further to protect the gums as well as the teeth.
What kinds of mouth guards are available?
Off-the-shelf mouth guard – this is a standard mouth guard available at sporting goods stores. They tend to be ‘one size fits all’ and non-adjustable, which will likely not fit a child’s mouth correctly. They are cheaper than a custom guard but a poor fit can result in lack of protection, can obstruct breathing and can be very uncomfortable. Result? A child might not wear it and be left with no protection at all.
“Boil and bite” mouth guard – this is a mouth guard, again purchased off the shelf at sporting goods stores, that is made to be heated in boiling water and molded to the wearer’s mouth. These are more effective than the ‘one size fits all’ models, as the customization allows for a better fit, easier breathing and more comfort for the wearer.
Customized mouth guard – this is a guard that is made by your dentist. An impression of the wearer’s teeth is taken and the mouth guard is customized to fit perfectly – a custom guard does cost more money than the store bought kind but offers the highest level of protection for teeth and gums.
Which kind of mouth guard is best for my child?
Ultimately, cost is a factor for most people but consider also if your child plays more than one sport throughout the year that might require the use of a mouth guard. A hockey player who plays baseball in the summer should definitely consider a custom mouth guard. After all, a fly ball to the mouth will be a far more expensive proposition in the long run!
What about ‘big kids’?
Big kids, also known as adults, need to protect their mouths when playing sports as well. Everything we have described here is applicable to adult sports enthusiasts too! Don’t leave yourself open to an expensive dental procedure to fix a broken or knocked out tooth.
Orion Dental Offers Emergency Service – If you do find yourself involved in an unfortunate dental accident this hockey season, time is of the essence! It’s important to get in to see us as soon as possible for emergency dental treatment. We have extended and weekend hours at both of our Milton and Scarborough offices and gladly welcome same-day emergency patients.
