Does your child play contact sports like football, soccer, lacrosse, or hockey? Are you experiencing tooth pain from clenching your teeth? We offer mouthguards in Worcester, MA, for children who play sports and protection for adults who experience teeth clenching and grinding. Mouthguards are key pediatric dental treatments at Children’s Dental Specialties that help prevent injury or wear to the natural smile. Wearing a mouthguard can stop damage to the teeth and gums.
The Benefits of Mouthguards for Children in Worcester, MA
Wearing a mouthguard can protect the smile. Our office offers custom sports mouthguards to help children prevent damage to their teeth and gums. They can also protect braces. Our nightguards are similar to mouthguards. However, we recommend nightguards for patients with TMJ disorders.
Sports Mouthguards
Children wear mouthguards for contact sports or sports with any contact between players. Common contact sports can include soccer, lacrosse, hockey, and basketball. Custom sports mouthguards provide:
- Comfort and protection against hits to teeth or orthodontic appliances
- Ability to speak and drink
- Protection from accidentally biting the tongue and cheek
- No need to bite down or clench the teeth to keep them in place
- Fun, bright mouthguard colors, and colorful cases
Children who play low-contact or no-impact sports can benefit from a sports mouthguard. There is always a chance that your child sustains a hit to the mouth during a contact sport. Your child can come into contact with a ball, sports equipment, or the ground when they play.
Wearing a mouthguard can prevent broken, chipped, and lost teeth or damage to braces. Your child can wear a mouthguard if they have braces. We highly recommend that your child receives a sports mouthguard if they have braces to prevent damage to the wires and brackets. Our office will customize the mouthguard so it can comfortably cover their braces.
Sports mouthguards should not feel loose. If your child has a loose sports mouthguard, they may need to clench their jaw to keep their mouthguard in place. An ill-fitting athletic mouthguard can cause distraction during a game. If your child clears their jaw to keep their mouthguard on their teeth, it can encourage bad oral health habits that stress the teeth.
Teeth Grinding Nightguards
Nightguards are different from sports mouthguards. Adult patients with bruxism benefit from custom-made oral appliances worn during the night. Teeth clenching and grinding, also known as bruxism, often occurs unconsciously. Bruxism is a common symptom of TMJ disorders that create discomfort in the teeth, face, and jaw. Wearing a nightguard during sleep can also stop additional symptoms like jaw pain, headaches, and tooth wear.
Custom-made professional nightguards can:
- Reduce jaw pressure
- Prevent tooth wear and injuries
- Combat symptoms like morning headaches
We often recommend a professionally made, custom nightguard if you have TMD. Store-bought nightguards do not offer a custom fit. These nightguards may also worsen symptoms like teeth grinding over time because they are made of soft materials. Softer plastic encourages you to chew on your nightguard.
A custom-made professional nightguard is made of hard acrylic. It will fit your smile and prevent problems like jaw pain and tooth wear because of its quality materials.
Are Mouthguards and Nightguards the Same?
Sports mouthguards and nightguards are not interchangeable. You can’t wear a sports mouthguard at night to treat teeth grinding, and you can’t wear a nightguard during contact sports. Sports mouthguards for regular contact sports only cover the top teeth. This is because the top teeth often protrude further out than the bottom teeth.
Alternatively, nightguards can cover the top or bottom teeth. Nightguards can last for several years with the right care. A nightguard is not the best option if your child has teeth-grinding problems. Wearing a nightguard can impact their tooth development. However, we recommend nightguards for adults.
We often recommend getting a new sports mouthguard if your child loses their baby teeth. As your child loses baby teeth and permanent teeth grow, their mouthguard can fit differently.
A good rule of thumb is to replace mouthguards after every season. You may also replace nightguards if there is significant wear to the plastic. Worn mouthguards will not fit properly and will not provide enough protection to the teeth and gums. It’s best to contact our office so we can create a replacement mouthguard as soon as possible.
Sports Mouthguard Treatment
Our dental office works with local dental laboratories to create custom mouthguards. We take intraoral scans, a modern alternative to traditional dental impressions, to capture an image of the smile. The scans do not require goopy, messy material. We use a handheld device to scan over each tooth to take intraoral scans. After we send dental impressions of teeth, lab technicians create the mouthguard.
Sports mouthguards are made of rubbery plastic material that covers the front of teeth. Your child will try on their new sports mouthguard during a second appointment. We may adjust the mouthguard to ensure it feels comfortable and fits properly. Then, we will send them home with their new mouthguard and case.
How to Care for Sports Mouthguards
We will tell your child how to clean and care for their mouthguard. It’s best to clean sports mouthguards before and after each use. Lukewarm water and antibacterial soap can easily clean the mouthguard. You can also use dissolvable mouthguard cleaners to soak your mouthguard. Cleaning mouthguards also keeps them smelling fresh.
Once your child cleans their mouthguard, they must keep it in its case. Patients can lose their mouthguards if they do not keep them in their cases. We also recommend that patients wrap their oral appliances in paper towels and place them in their case to dry. Patients can accidentally throw away their mouthguard if they keep it in a paper towel.
Custom Mouthguard FAQs
Learn more about custom mouthguard treatment in Worcester, MA, with answers to these commonly asked questions:
What sports require a mouthguard?
Many sports require players to wear a mouthguard to help protect their teeth and mouth. Some common sports where a mouthguard is needed include:
- Football
- Hockey
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Lacrosse
- Field hockey
Any sports with contact between players require mouthguards. Like other protective equipment, such as shin guards or helmets, mouthguards offer protection. They protect the teeth, gums, and jaw.
Can my child get a sports mouthguard if they have braces?
Yes, your child can get a sports mouthguard if they have braces. A custom mouthguard will fit over the braces and protect their teeth, gums, and the braces from injuries. The mouthguard helps prevent cuts to the mouth and keeps the braces from getting damaged. To ensure maximum protection and comfort, it’s best to have a dentist create a custom mouthguard that fits perfectly with the braces.
Are custom mouthguards comfortable to wear?
Yes, custom mouthguards are comfortable to wear! Unlike store-bought mouthguards, which can be bulky and not fit well, custom mouthguards are made specifically for your mouth.
We take impressions of your teeth so the mouthguard fits snugly and securely. This means it won’t slide around or feel awkward while your child is playing sports. Many kids find them easy to wear and can talk and breathe comfortably while using them.
Can my child still wear their mouthguard when they lose their baby teeth?
Yes, your child can still wear their mouthguard despite losing their baby teeth. A mouthguard can help prevent injuries to the remaining baby teeth and any new adult teeth that grow. If your child is losing teeth frequently, we can check if the mouthguard still fits well and make adjustments if needed.
How often should I replace my child’s sports mouthguard?
You should replace your child’s sports mouthguard every season or every six months. Also, if the mouthguard shows signs of wear, like cracks or holes, it’s time to get a new one. A damaged mouthguard won’t protect the teeth properly.
If your child is still growing, they might need a new mouthguard more often. As their teeth and jaw change, a mouthguard that fits well now might become too small. Regularly checking the mouthguard for these signs will help ensure your child stays safe while playing sports.
Why do sports mouthguards only cover the upper teeth?
Sports mouthguards usually only cover the upper teeth for a few reasons. First, the upper teeth are more likely to get injured during sports because they stick out more than the lower teeth. Protecting them helps prevent chips, cracks, and other damage. A mouthguard that covers just the upper teeth can still help protect the jaw from injuries. It acts like a cushion if someone takes a hit to the face.
If a mouthguard covers both the upper and lower teeth, it could make it hard to close the mouth properly. This might cause discomfort or make it difficult to talk and breathe. A custom mouthguard that covers the upper teeth fits more comfortably.
What should I do if my child loses their mouthguard?
If your child loses their mouthguard, please call our office so we can make a replacement as soon as possible. In the meantime, retrace your child’s steps to see if you can find it. Check places like a gym bag, locker, or car.
If your child has a game or practice coming up soon, consider using a spare or store-bought mouthguard. Talk to your child about the importance of keeping their mouthguard safe. Encourage them to store it in a special case or pouch when they’re not using it.
Can you get a sports mouthguard at any age?
Yes, you can get a sports mouthguard at any age. Mouthguards are suitable for children, teens, and adults. Whether your child is just starting sports or if you are an adult playing on a team, wearing a mouthguard can help prevent dental injuries.
Protect Your Child’s Smile
Does your child need an athletic mouthguard? Call Children’s Dental Specialties in Worcester, MA, for mouthguards at (508) 625-5534. You can also schedule a dental appointment with us on our website.