It is estimated that over 5 million teeth are knocked out every year. Many of these dental traumas take place on the playing field or court. Each dislodged tooth involves several trips to the dentist and hundreds of dollars in restoration costs. Not to mention pain!
At Boulder County Smiles, in Lafayette, CO, we want to raise awareness of the importance of athletic mouth protection. I counsel my patients to think of mouthguards as a critical part of their protective gear.
Most Lafayette parents require their children and adolescents to wear helmets when biking and shinguards while playing soccer. I encourage moms and dads to emphasize the importance of mouth protection from your child’s very first 5-year-old T-ball game. And we all need to practice what we preach.
There are three main types of mouthguards: ready-to-wear, boil and bite, and custom-fitted. Stock mouthguards are one-size-fits-all but rarely fit well. (Though they are better than nothing.)
You can find boil and bite mouth protectors at Lafayette sporting goods stores. They are to be softened in water and then formed in the mouth (follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use).
Some Lafayette dentists offer custom sports mouthguards that provide the highest level of protection and comfort. Mouth protectors that are comfortable are more likely to be worn by kids who complain about wearing a mouthguard. Ask your dentist about custom mouthguards.
Mouth protection is extremely essential for Lafayette patients with braces or fixed bridge work. Some Lafayette orthodontists recommend mouth protectors for lower teeth as well.
For more information about mouth protection, call us today.
Contact Boulder County Smiles:
720-899-3987
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026