Why Are Mouthguards Essential for Fall Sports?
As the weather cools and fall sports season kicks into gear, student athletes across Downers Grove are lacing up cleats, grabbing hockey sticks, and hitting the field for soccer, football, and more. But before your child steps onto the field this season, there’s one piece of equipment that shouldn’t be overlooked: mouthguards. At Jackson Family Dentistry, we see firsthand how a simple mouthguard can mean the difference between a great season and a painful trip to the dentist.
What Do Mouthguards Actually Protect?
Mouthguards do more than just cushion a hit to the face. They protect teeth from chips, cracks, and complete knockouts, and they help absorb the shock of a blow to the jaw that could otherwise result in a fracture. Mouthguards also cushion the lips, cheeks, and tongue, reducing the risk of soft tissue injuries that can require stitches or other emergency care.
Fall sports like football, soccer, field hockey, and wrestling can involve collisions, falls, and unexpected contact. Any activity where there’s a risk of a ball, elbow, stick, or another player making contact with the face is a good reason to wear mouthguards.
Which Sports Really Need Mouthguards?
Football is the obvious one, and most leagues require mouthguards as part of the standard uniform. But dental injuries happen just as often in sports many parents don’t think to protect against. Soccer players collide heads and take errant kicks to the face. Field hockey players face fast-moving balls and sticks. Even cheerleaders performing stunts can take a hard fall.
The Academy for Sports Dentistry recommends mouthguards for any sport with a risk of falls or contact with equipment or other players, which covers the vast majority of fall athletics. If your child plays a sport this season, chances are good that mouthguards should be part of their gear bag.
Are All Mouthguards the Same?
Not even close. There are three main types of mouthguards, and the differences matter more than most parents realize.
- Stock mouthguards come pre-formed and ready to wear right out of the package. They’re inexpensive, but they often fit poorly, making it hard to breathe or talk comfortably.
- Boil-and-bite mouthguards are softened in hot water, then bitten into to create a semi-custom fit. These offer better protection than stock guards but still fall short of a true custom fit.
- Custom-Fitted mouthguards, made by your dentist, are molded specifically to your child’s teeth and bite. They offer the best fit, the most comfort, and the highest level of protection since they’re designed for that individual’s mouth.
At Jackson Family Dentistry, Eric G. Jackson, DDS, United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Volunteer Team Dentist, and past president of the Academy for Sports Dentistry, can create a custom mouthguard designed to fit your child’s teeth precisely, which means better protection and a guard your child will actually want to wear.
How Do I Get My Child Fitted for a Mouthguard?
Getting a custom mouthguard is simple. During a visit, our team takes digital impressions of your child’s teeth with our iTero scanner, and the mouthguard is crafted to match their unique bite. Custom mouthguards tend to stay in place better during play, so athletes aren’t constantly readjusting or spitting them out between plays, which also means better compliance overall.
It’s also worth checking your child’s mouthguard at the start of each season. Growing kids and teens may need a new one as their teeth shift or new teeth come in. A mouthguard that fit well last fall might be too tight or too loose this year.
What Happens If My Child Plays Without One?
Dental injuries from sports are more common than many parents expect, and they’re often preventable. A single hard hit without a mouthguard can result in a chipped tooth, a knocked-out tooth, or a jaw injury that requires extensive and costly treatment. Compared to the price of a mouthguard, the cost of restorative dental work after an injury is far higher, both financially and in terms of your child’s comfort.
Ready to Protect Your Athlete’s Smile This Season?
Fall sports should be about fun, teamwork, and growth, not dental emergencies. Whether your child is heading to football practice or field hockey tryouts, a properly fitted mouthguard is one of the easiest ways to protect their smile all season long. Contact Jackson Family Dentistry today to schedule a custom mouthguard fitting for your young athlete and give them one more reason to feel confident on the field.
