Kids Sports Guard
Portland, OR
 Children love staying active, whether they are playing on a school team, participating in a community league, or enjoying recreational sports with friends. While sports help kids build confidence, strength, and teamwork, they also come with the risk of injuries, especially to the mouth and face. A sports mouthguard is one of the simplest and most effective ways to help protect your child's smile during athletic activities. At Portland Children's Dentistry, we encourage families throughout NW and SE Portland to help their children stay safe by wearing a properly fitted sports guard whenever they participate in activities that could result in impacts to the face or jaw.
Why Do Kids Need Mouthguards?
Many sports involve physical contact, fast-moving equipment, or the possibility of accidental collisions. A sports mouthguard creates a protective barrier between the teeth and surrounding soft tissues, helping reduce the risk of dental injuries. It also cushions the force of an impact, which can help protect the jaw and surrounding structures.
Children should consider wearing a mouthguard for sports such as:
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Football
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Basketball
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Soccer
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Baseball and softball
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Hockey
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Wrestling
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Martial arts
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Boxing |
Even sports that are not traditionally considered contact sports can involve accidental falls, collisions with teammates, or impacts from sports equipment. A sudden blow to the mouth can result in chipped or broken teeth, knocked-out teeth, cuts to the lips or cheeks, or injuries to the jaw.
Protecting Your Child's Mouth and Jaw
Sports-related dental injuries can happen in an instant. Whether your child is running across a soccer field, diving for a basketball, or taking a fall from a bicycle, a mouthguard helps absorb and distribute the force of an impact before it reaches the teeth and jaw.
One of the primary benefits of a sports guard is protecting the teeth from fractures. A direct hit can crack, chip, or even knock out a permanent tooth. These injuries often require extensive dental treatment and may have lasting effects on your child's oral health.
A mouthguard also helps protect the soft tissues inside the mouth. Without one, the teeth can forcefully contact the lips, cheeks, or tongue during an impact, causing painful cuts and bruising. The smooth surface of the guard creates a cushion that reduces the chance of these injuries.
The gums also benefit from added protection. A strong impact can damage the gum tissue surrounding the teeth, leading to discomfort and possible complications during healing. By reducing the force transmitted to the mouth, a sports guard helps protect these delicate tissues.
In addition to protecting the teeth and soft tissues, a mouthguard helps support the jaw. Contact sports often involve collisions that place significant pressure on the lower jaw. The cushioning effect of the guard helps absorb shock, reducing stress on the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. This may decrease the likelihood of jaw injuries during athletic activities.
For children who wear braces or other orthodontic appliances, a mouthguard becomes even more important. It helps prevent brackets and wires from causing injuries to the inside of the mouth while also protecting the orthodontic appliances themselves from damage.
Benefits of a Custom Mouth Guard
Parents often see boil-and-bite or one-size-fits-all mouthguards available at sporting goods stores. While these options may provide some protection, they cannot match the comfort, fit, and performance of a custom sports guard created by your dentist.
At Portland Children's Dentistry, we create custom mouthguards designed specifically for your child's smile. The process begins by taking precise impressions or digital scans of the teeth. This allows the guard to fit comfortably while providing excellent protection.
Because a custom guard fits securely, it is much less likely to shift or fall out during play. Children are also more likely to wear a mouthguard consistently when it feels comfortable and does not interfere with speaking or breathing.
Custom sports guards offer several important advantages, including:
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Superior fit and comfort
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Better protection against impacts
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Allows easier breathing during sports
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Makes speaking with coaches and teammates easier
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Stays securely in place during activity
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Designed specifically for your child's teeth and bite
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Can accommodate orthodontic appliances when needed
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Greater durability than many store-bought options |
Because children's mouths continue to grow, a custom sports guard can also be evaluated during routine dental visits to ensure it continues to fit properly. Your dentist can recommend when adjustments or replacement may be beneficial as your child's smile develops.
Care and Maintenance
Taking good care of a sports mouthguard helps it stay clean, comfortable, and effective throughout the season. Fortunately, maintaining a sports guard only takes a few simple steps.
After every practice or game, rinse the mouthguard thoroughly with cool water. Washing it with mild soap and a soft toothbrush helps remove saliva, bacteria, and debris that may collect during use. Be sure to rinse away any soap before storing it.
Always allow the mouthguard to air dry completely before placing it in its storage case. A ventilated case allows air to circulate while helping keep the guard clean between uses.
Children should avoid leaving their mouthguard in hot environments, such as inside a parked car. Excessive heat can warp the material and affect the fit. Likewise, avoid chewing on the guard, as this can damage its shape and reduce its protective ability.
Parents should also inspect the mouthguard regularly for tears, holes, worn areas, or changes in shape. If the guard becomes damaged or no longer fits properly, it should be replaced.
Bringing the sports guard to regular dental checkups allows your dental team to examine its condition and make sure it continues to provide appropriate protection.
How Often Should Guards Be Replaced?
Children grow quickly, and their mouths change as new teeth erupt and permanent teeth continue developing. Because of these natural changes, sports mouthguards need to be replaced.
Many children benefit from replacing their sports guard every season or every year, depending on their age, growth, and level of athletic participation. Younger children often require more frequent replacements because their teeth and jaws are changing rapidly.
A mouthguard should also be replaced if it:
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No longer fits comfortably
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Feels loose during activity
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Has cracks, tears, or holes
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Has become misshapen from heat or chewing
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Shows significant wear from regular use
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No longer fits after orthodontic treatment or major dental changes |
Using a properly fitting mouthguard is just as important as wearing one. A guard that no longer fits correctly cannot provide the same level of protection as one designed for your child's current smile.
Schedule an Appointment
Helping your child stay safe during sports starts with protecting their smile. Whether your young athlete plays on a competitive team or enjoys recreational activities, a custom sports mouthguard provides dependable protection for their teeth, gums, lips, and jaw. At Portland Children's Dentistry, we proudly help families throughout NW and SE Portland keep young smiles healthy with comfortable, custom-fitted sports guards designed for growing children. Contact our team today at (503) 893-2889 to schedule an appointment and give your child the confidence to play their favorite sports with added protection. |
