Does your child play sports? If the answer is yes, consider protecting his or her smile with a mouthguard. Dental injuries from trauma can be painful and costly. Our goal at Riverstone Pediatric Dentistry is to prevent these types of injuries.
Mouthguards help protect your child from injuries to your child’s lips, tongue, face or jaw. They typically cover the upper teeth, which take the brunt of trauma. The best mouthguard is one that has been custom made for your child’s mouth by your pediatric dentist. A properly fitted mouthguard may be especially important for people who wear braces to avoid damage to the braces and to protect the lips and cheeks from painful injuries.
Once a customized guard has been made for your child, it’s important to take care of it between games. The best way to do this is by following these helpful tips:
- Rinse before and after each use or brush with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Regularly clean the mouthguard in cool, soapy water and rinse thoroughly.
- During your child’s dental checkups, bring your mouthguard for an evaluation by your pediatric dentist.
- Store and transport the mouthguard in a sturdy container that has vents so it can dry and keep bacteria from growing.
- Never leave the mouthguard in the sun or in hot water.
- Check for signs of wear and tear to see if it needs to be replaced.
- Store your child’s mouthguard away from family pets. Dogs love them as chew toys!
We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful summer and we look forward to seeing you soon!
