Mouthguard Bethel Park
Protect Your Child’s Smile with a Mouthguard
Prevention is vital when it comes to protecting young smiles and ensuring they last for a lifetime. You may think this only involves your child’s home oral hygiene habits and regular care from their dentist, but there is another tool they can use to protect their teeth and gums from damage: mouthguards. Although you can purchase one over-the-counter, it does not offer the same level of protection as those available from our office. Dr. Palmer can provide a custom-made mouth guard to protect your child’s smile and orthodontia.
Why Choose Smiles by Palmer for Mouthguards?
- Two Convenient Office Locations
- Compassionate and Experienced Orthodontist
- Insurance Accepted and Financing Available
Types of Mouthguards
There are multiple types of mouthguards that are used for different purposes depending on your child’s unique needs:
Bruxism/Tooth Grinding Mouthguards
Bruxism, or the grinding/clenching of the teeth, is a condition that is only thought to affect adults, but children and teens can experience it as well. It often goes hand-in-hand with other underlying conditions, such as sleep disorders or a poorly aligned bite. No matter the cause, the friction and strain can damage your child’s teeth. Not to mention, it can lead to jaw pain, headaches, and sores on the inside of the cheeks.
A custom-made mouthguard acts as a protective barrier between the top and bottom teeth. This can prevent enamel erosion, chips, and fractures to keep their teeth strong and healthy.
Sports Mouthguards
If your child plays sports, a mouthguard is equally important as a helmet. It’s estimated that over 5 million teeth are knocked out every year from sports. Not to mention as much as 39% of all dental injuries are sports-related! You can easily help protect your child with an athletic mouthguard.
It provides protection to your child’s teeth and soft tissues if there is trauma to the face or mouth. As much as 200,000 oral injuries can be prevented each year by wearing a sports mouth guard. Not only does it offer protection for the teeth, lips, tongue, and cheeks, new research suggests it can also reduce the risk of concussion.
Caring for Mouthguards
Mouthguards are beneficial to your child’s smile, but they also harbor bacteria, mold, and yeast. This can lead to serious infections. It is important for your child to clean their mouthguard well. Unfortunately, rinsing it with water is not enough. The American Dental Association recommends it is cleaned using a soft-bristled toothbrush and nonabrasive toothpaste regularly. Soaking it in an antimicrobial solution can also kill harmful organisms and bacteria to keep their smile healthy.
When they are not wearing their mouthguard, it is important for it to be stored in a protective case that has adequate ventilation. This allows it to stay dry to prevent bacteria growth while also preventing damage.
Over time, the mouthguard will show the signs of use. It is best to have it replaced as needed to ensure it continues to protect your child’s smile properly. We’ll let you know when it’s time during your child’s next visit!