When your child is  preparing for sports practice or a game, they wouldn’t dream of going without their uniform. If they are playing a contact sport like football or hockey, they always have a helmet and pads on before going near the field or rink. However, if they aren’t using a sports mouth guard for their practices and matches, they’re are missing a vital piece of protective gear.

Each year, an estimated 13-39% of all dental injuries occur while playing sports. Since mouth guards were made a mandatory part of American football, about 200,000 injuries to the mouth and teeth have been prevented annually.

However, the dangers of tooth and mouth injury do not end with contact sports. In fact, recent studies have found that today’s basketball players are far more likely to suffer injury to the face, mouth, and teeth than football players. For these sports, contact comes from the ball, ground, hoop, or other surface rather than other players. While mouth guards are not currently required by most schools and teams, Sparkle Pediatric Dentistry highly recommends it.

Protect your child’s teeth with a sports mouth guard. Henrico pediatric dentist, Dr. Holly Lewis, will custom-fit your child’s mouth guard to keep them safe while they play. Contact our Mechanicsville dental office to schedule an appointment.