Blog Summary:
Keeping your child safe during sports goes beyond helmets and padding—mouth guards are a must-have for many athletic activities! In this blog, we explore which youth sports require or strongly recommend mouth guards, why they’re so important, and how to choose the right type for comfort and protection.
You’ll discover:
- Which sports use mouth guards (like football, field hockey, basketball, softball, and flag football)
- The difference between stock, boil-and-bite, and custom mouth guards
- Why custom mouthguards from a dentist offer the best protection—especially for kids with braces
- What to consider when selecting the best mouthguard for your active child
As a parent, it’s natural that your first instinct is to protect your child. That’s just as true off the field as it is on the field. But when it comes to sports, there are some that are riskier than others, requiring extra precautions like helmets and mouthguards.
Which specific sports use mouth guards for kids? In truth, just about any contact sport is one during which it’s useful to wear a mouthguard.
Let’s uncover more details so you can be sure your little one stays safe during their athletic adventures.
Why Mouth Guards for Kids Matter
Would you let your child ride a bike without a helmet? Would you let them go to the beach without wearing sunscreen? Would you let them ride in a car without wearing a seatbelt? Probably not.
When it comes to mouthguards and sports, should you let them play without one? That does depend to a degree on the sport in question, but often, the answer is “No”.
But why is that? After all, you’ve probably heard some parents scoff about mouthguard use or downplay the risks associated with youth sports.
Simply put, a 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis of several studies proved that people who wore mouthguards during sports were around twice as safe from orofacial injuries as people who did not.
Another meta-analysis showed that the prevalence of dental trauma was just 7.5% among mouth guard users versus a staggering 59.48% for non-users.
That means that your child is potentially around seven times safer while playing sports when wearing a mouthguard compared to not wearing one.
Which Kids’ Sports Use Mouth Guards?
Laws governing which sports require mouthguards do often vary in the U.S. state-by-state, but for sports that are extremely high-impact like football, ice hockey, field hockey, and men’s lacrosse, mouth guards are generally required by law.
Even if mouth guards aren’t mandated, from a safety point of view, it’s wise for children and adults alike to wear one for most contact sports, collision sports, and high-velocity sports, due to the associated risk of injury they present.
Specifically, Delta Dental recommends mouthguards for kids who play these sports:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Softball
- Football
- Soccer
- Lacrosse
- Rugby
- Wrestling
- Martial arts
- Recreational sports such as skateboarding, bicycling, and in-line skating
You may be wondering why activities like skateboarding and bicycling benefit from mouthguards. Think about it: there’s always the risk of hitting a rock or bump when biking or skateboarding, causing you to fall headfirst onto the pavement. Even surfers can benefit from mouthguards if hit by a rogue wave. In short, if there’s a risk of facial or dental injury, a mouthguard is probably a good idea.
Mouthguard Use: Your Responsibility as a Parent
Many athletes simply don’t like the feeling of wearing a mouthguard, especially when they are young and don’t fully understand the risks associated with going guardless.
For this reason, it’s important to educate your little ones about the importance of wearing a mouth guard, especially if it’s required.
When required, you do have a responsibility as a parent of a minor to ensure that they wear a mouthguard.
Types of Mouthguards Available
As ANSI/ADA Standard No. 99:2001 mentions, there are three generally accepted types of mouthguards for sports.
Here are the main three types, along with some pros and cons of choosing each.
1. Stock Mouth Guards
These mouth guards are generally available over the counter in one-size-fits-all sizing. This means they’re inexpensive and readily available. It also means that they usually provide a poor fit and low level of protection relative to other mouthguard types.
2. Boil and Bite Mouth Guards
These types of mouth guards are fairly affordable and allow you to mold them to your child’s teeth at home, creating a snugger fit and more comfortable wearing experience. They are not usually ideal for kids or teens with braces, however.
3. Custom Mouth Guards
Custom mouth guards are created for each unique individual by a dentist, offering the best protection, the highest degree of comfort, and compatibility with braces. If your child is a serious or long-term athlete, this type of mouthguard is usually well worth the price.
How to Choose the Right Mouthguard
Whether you’re on the hunt for the best field hockey mouthguard for your teen or the most comfortable mouthguard for kids’ football, here’s what to consider when comparing mouthguards to be sure you choose the right one:
- Appropriate Size: Whether choosing a one-size-fits-all mouthguard from the store or a custom one, you’ll want to ensure it is sized appropriately for your child.
- Comfort Level: While closely related to size, comfort is something that’s a little harder to gauge. While mouthguards may never feel “natural”, they shouldn’t cause pain or irritation, so be sure to talk through mouthguard comfort with your child.
- Kids’ Braces: If your kid or teen wears braces, then it’s probably in their best interest to wear a custom mouthguard fitted by a dentist. The last thing you want is to cause thousands in damage by trying to save a few hundred dollars.
- ADA Recommendation: Look for a mouthguard that’s recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA).
Need a Custom Mouthguard? We Can Help!
Protect your child’s smile on the field and court! Schedule a visit with The Super Dentists to get a custom-fitted mouth guard designed for maximum comfort and protection during sports. Find a convenient office location near you and book your appointment now!
