On Guard: Protecting Children’s Mouths from Trauma

I am writing in my dual role as a mother of two very active boys and as a restorative dentist, practicing in a family based office in Princeton.

Over the years I have treated countless lacerations, chipped teeth, and teeth lost altogether.  Some of these injuries are the result of contact during true impact sports, but many also involve activities like swimming, gymnastics and even breakdancing.  The fact is, any time there is a lot of movement, jumping, running, rolling or tumbling, our children’s teeth and the surrounding tissues are at risk.

Mouth Guards to the Rescue

  A proper-fitting mouth guard will absorb impact, prevent lacerations and help minimize the severity of a traumatic event.

Should your child wear a mouth guard every single time they are physically active? I sometimes say “yes” to that but of course, they are active almost all of the time. Practically speaking, children should wear a mouth guard during all athletic activities that involve fast motions and running.  Children wearing braces are at even higher risk; for them a mouth guard is especially protective and invaluable.

The Unhappy Reality

Statistics show, that there is low use of mouth guards among children, and most parents fear that their children will eventually get hurt during sports.

According to the American Dental Association, “studies of mouth guard users and nonusers have consistently shown that mouth guards offer significant protection against sports-related injuries to the teeth and soft tissues. Mouth guards provide a resilient, protective surface to distribute and dissipate forces on impact, thereby minimizing the severity of traumatic injury to the hard or soft tissues.”

A mouth guard is a good investment if your children play sports or do physical activities.  While area sporting goods stores stock various types of mouth guards, some are not as good as others. I encourage parents to consider mouth guards that are made by a dentist. While these are not as inexpensive as stock items, they are much more comfortable because they are custom made, fit better and allow better compliance.

I strongly recommend that all parents, coaches and leagues educate themselves on the benefits of mouth guards.  Please promote the use of mouth guards for athletes of all ages.  Without a doubt, a mouth guard should be a standard piece of equipment accompanying any child’s sport uniform.

Ruxandra Balescu, DMD, practices at Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics in Princeton, NJ and is the mother of two sons.  Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics, welcomes young athletes and their families for comprehensive preventive and restorative oral health services. Schedule your appointment by calling (609) 924-1414 or visit www.princetondentist.com.