You know that your child’s involvement in a sport is helping them build healthful habits for life, but you also know it exposes them to injury risks. Fortunately, Davette Johnson-Harris, DDS, helps her patients at Lakewood Kids Dentistry in Houston, lessen that risk through custom-fitted mouthguards. To get your child the right mouthguard for their mouth and activity level, call Dr. Johnson-Harris’s office or book an appointment online.
What types of activities require a mouthguard?
Parents often associate mouthguards with high-impact sports like wrestling and football. But most forms of physical activity pose some risk to your child’s teeth. Getting them a comfortable, custom-fitted mouthguard they can wear during sports protects their smile and saves them from the potential pain of tooth damage.
Dr. Johnson-Harris recommends children wear mouthguards when they’re involved in any sport where their body will be moving at a high speed, including:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Lacrosse
- Field hockey
- Ice hockey
- Wrestling
- Boxing
- Gymnastics
- Skateboarding
- Mountain biking
- BMX biking
- Rollerblading
What’s the difference between a custom-fitted mouthguard and one I buy at the store?
If you have a hard time getting your son or daughter to wear their mouthguard, it might be because they don’t have the right type. An ill-fitting mouthguard feels clunky and uncomfortable. It can even feel like it inhibits their ability to breathe.
That’s why Dr. Johnson-Harris offers custom-fitted mouthguards. Using her extensive knowledge of your child’s teeth, she shapes a mouthguard to fit as comfortably as possible. In fact, with this type of mouthguard, they might even forget they’re wearing it.
The custom fit delivers more than increased comfort, too. When the mouthguard is precisely made for your child, it delivers optimal protection to each tooth.
Can my child wear a mouthguard if they have braces?
Absolutely. Dr. Johnson-Harris is seasoned at creating mouthguards that fit comfortably over braces. In this way, she protects the progress your child is making toward a straight smile — and your investment in their teeth.
As an added benefit, these mouthguards cushion the soft tissue in your child’s mouth against damage from the wires and brackets in their mouth.
If your son or daughter wears a retainer or any other removable oral appliance, make sure they remove it before putting in their mouthguard and playing their sport.
Your child is more likely to wear a mouthguard to protect their teeth if it’s comfortable. Get them the best fitting, most minimally obstructive mouthguard possible by calling Lakewood Kids Dentistry or booking an appointment with Dr. Johnson-Harris online.