Fitting snugly over the upper teeth, mouth guards protect the entire oral region from traumatic injury, preserving both the esthetic appearance and the health of the smile. In addition, mouth guards are sometimes used to prevent tooth damage in children who grind (brux) their teeth at night.

The American Academy of Pediatric dentistry (AAPD) in particular, advocates for the use of dental mouth guards during any sporting or recreational activity. Most store-brought mouth guards cost fewer than ten dollars, but providing little to no protection. Customized mouth guards at Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry offer the greatest degree of protection, and are custom-made by the dentist.

How can mouth guards protect my child?

The majority of sporting organizations now require that participates routinely wear mouth guards. Though mouth guards are primarily designed to protect the teeth, they can also vastly reduce the degree of force transmitted from a trauma impact point (jaw) to the central nervous system (base of the brain). In this way, mouth guards help minimize the risk of traumatic brain injury, which is especially important for younger children.

Moth guards also reduce the prevalence of injuries such as: cheek lesions, concussions, gum and soft tissue injuries, jawbone fractures, lip lesions, neck injuries, tongue lesions, tooth fractures.

What type of mouth guard should I purchase for my child?

Though there are literally thousands of mouth guard brands, most brands fall into three major categories: stock mouth guards, boil and bite mouth guards, and customized mouth guards. Some points to consider when choosing a mouth guard include:

- How much money is available to spend?

How often does the child play sports?

- What kind of sport does the child play? (Basketball and baseball tend to cause the most oral injuries).

In light of these pints, there is an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of mouth guard:

Stock mouth guards - These mouth guards can be bought directly off the shelf and immediately fitted into the child's mouth. The fit is universal (one-size-fits-all), meaning that the mouth guard doesn't adjust. Stock mouth guards are very cheap, easy to fit, and quick to locate at sporting goods stores. Our pediatric dentist, Dr. Olga Dolghier favors this type of mouth guard least, as it provides minimal to no protection at all, obstructs proper breathing and speaking, and tends to be uncomfortable.

Boil and bite mouth guards - These mouth guards are usually made from thermoplastic and are easily located at most sporting goods stores. First, the thermoplastic must be immersed in hot water to make it pliable, and then it must be pressed on the child's teeth to create a custom mold. Boil and bite mouth guards are slightly more expensive than stock mouth guards, but tend to offer more protection, feel more comfortable in the mouth, and allow for easy speech production and breathing.

Customized mouth guards - These mouth guards offer the greatest degree of protection, and are custom-made by the dentist. First, the dentist makes an impression of the child's teeth using special material, and then the mouth guard is constructed over the mold. Customized mouth guards are more expensive and take longer to fit, but are more comfortable, orthodontically correct and fully approved the the dentist. Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry offers custom mouth guards in your teams colors. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more!

Should you have questions or need additional information about choosing a mouth guard for your child, please contact our pediatric dentist, Dr. Olga Dolghier. Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry Goodyear, Surprise, Avondale, Phoenix