Mouthguards:  How to best protect your teeth, lips and tongue

  Besides making sure they have their backpacks filled with all of the essentials for a great academic year, children are thinking about sports involvement as they prepare for the school year.  With any physical activity there is always inherent risk of bodily injury.  Mouthguards can help protect children from injury to the lips, tongue, teeth and jaw.  Mouthguards are commonly used whenever a child is participating in a contact sport such as football or hockey and should be used whenever there is a potential risk to of injury to the head and neck region.  There are three different kinds of mouthguards available:  1) a ready made mouthguard, 2) “boil and bite” mouthguard and 3) a custom mouthguard made by your dentist.  Mouthguards usually fit over your top teeth and should allow you to speak with no difficulty as well as be generally comfortable to wear.  We wish you success on your chosen sport and we hope that you wear all protective gear that is recommended to keep you safe.  Best of luck with your school year! 

-Authored by Robin Hogan, DDS