Saving Face: Kids & Sports Mouth Guards

The spring sports season is almost upon us, are you ready? Hopefully you've begun sorting through last year's gear, helmets, bats, sticks, balls, pads, shin guards, tape, all the fun stuff moms and dads get to lug around in the name of playful competition. But you're probably missing one essential piece of equipment. An athletic mouth guard should be on your checklist.

The American Dental Association recommends the use of them for many collision and contact sports. A recent article found on their website says players of all ages, genders and skill levels are at risk of sustaining dental injuries in sporting activities, even if it's just a recreational league game. While collision and contact sports, such as boxing, have inherent injury risks, dental injuries are also prevalent in non-contact activities and exercises, such as gymnastics and skating.

On the radar for spring: Softball, baseball, soccer, field hockey, lacrosse and outdoor volleyball. If your child is signing up for one of these sports, consider a guard. Just don't confuse a face guard with a mouthguard. Custom mouth guards are the only way your perfect smile will be protected. It could save you (and your child) a lot of pain and frustration later! By the way, if you do lose a tooth while enjoying a game, check out my FAQ's for tips on what to do next!