Summer means longer days, outdoor adventures, and for many kids, the return of sports leagues and recreational activities. Whether your child is on the soccer field, at the skate park, or playing basketball with friends, one piece of protective gear often gets overlooked: a properly fitted mouthguard. A hit to the face, an elbow to the jaw, or a fall on the pavement can result in chipped, cracked, or knocked-out teeth in a matter of seconds.
At Pine Tree Pediatric Dentistry, we want every child to stay active and play hard while keeping their smile protected. Our team, led by Dr. Tesha Waggoner, works with families across the Portland area to provide custom-fitted mouthguards designed to offer far better protection than the one-size-fits-all options found at sporting goods stores. If your child is heading into a summer full of activity, read on to learn why a custom mouthguard could be one of the most important investments you make for their oral health. You can learn more about our full range of services to support your child’s care.
Why Sports Mouth Protection Matters for Kids
Children’s mouths are still developing, which means both baby teeth and incoming permanent teeth are vulnerable to trauma. A single sports injury can lead to a fractured or displaced tooth, or soft-tissue damage to the lips, tongue, and gums. In more serious cases, a hard blow can result in a dental emergency requiring immediate attention.
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s policy on the prevention of sports-related orofacial injuries, helmets, face masks, and mouthguards have been shown to reduce both the frequency and severity of dental and orofacial trauma. Despite this, most youth sports do not require mouthguards, leaving the decision up to parents. Understanding the risks your child faces on the field or court can help you make an informed choice about their protection.
What Makes a Custom Mouthguard Different?
Not all mouthguards are created equal. Parents often reach for a boil-and-bite option because it is convenient and affordable, but these guards fall short in several important ways. They are typically thicker and bulkier, which makes breathing and speaking more difficult during play, and they do not fit your child’s teeth and bite as closely.
A custom mouthguard is made from an impression of your child’s mouth, fitting precisely over their teeth and providing even coverage across the dental arch. This proper fit allows the guard to absorb and distribute the force of an impact rather than focusing it on one spot. Children are also more likely to wear a mouthguard consistently when it fits comfortably and does not interfere with communication on the field.
Which Sports Call for a Mouthguard?
Many parents think mouthguards are only necessary for contact sports like football or hockey, but dental injuries can occur in a wide range of activities. Here are some sports and activities where mouth protection is strongly recommended:
- Football and hockey: These sports are well known for their contact, and mouthguards are often required, but store-bought varieties still leave gaps in coverage.
- Soccer and basketball: Both involve frequent elbow-to-face contact, falls, and collisions, placing front teeth at significant risk.
- Gymnastics and cheerleading: Falls and tumbling can result in impacts to the face, especially when a child is learning new skills.
- Baseball and softball: A pitch, a bat swing, or a ball in the field can make contact with the face faster than a child can react.
- Skateboarding and BMX: Unprotected falls are common in these activities, and a mouthguard adds an extra layer of protection alongside helmets and pads.
Mouth protection is a good idea for any sport or activity where a fall, collision, or impact is a realistic possibility.
What to Do If a Dental Injury Happens
Even with proper protection, injuries can still occur. Knowing what to do in the moment can make a major difference in saving a tooth. If your child chips or fractures a tooth, collect any broken pieces and contact our office right away. If a tooth is completely knocked out, handle it by the crown rather than the root, and store it in milk, saline solution, or a tooth preservation kit until you can reach our office or an emergency facility.
Our emergency dentistry services are available to help families navigate urgent dental situations quickly and calmly. We have an on-call dentist who can assist after hours, so you are never left without guidance when something unexpected happens. Protecting your child’s teeth through prevention is always the first goal, but knowing you have support when something goes wrong brings real peace of mind.
Getting Your Child’s Custom Mouthguard at Pine Tree Pediatric Dentistry
The process for getting a custom mouthguard is simple and comfortable for kids. During a visit, we take an impression of your child’s teeth, which is then used to create a guard molded precisely to their unique bite and arch shape. Because children’s mouths grow and change, we recommend updating the mouthguard periodically to keep the fit accurate and the protection effective, especially during the years when permanent teeth are still coming in.
If your child is due for a first visit or a routine exam, adding a mouthguard fitting to the appointment is easy. We also offer dental crowns and other restorative care for children who have already experienced tooth injuries, so we can address both prevention and any existing concerns in one place.
Protect Your Child’s Smile at Pine Tree Pediatric Dentistry
Summer is a season to enjoy, and that means letting your child run, jump, kick, and compete without holding back. A well-fitted custom mouthguard is a simple, affordable way to protect the smile they will carry for the rest of their life, and it takes just one appointment to get started. Dr. T and our team are here to make the process easy and comfortable, because keeping kids healthy and happy is what we do.
Ready to get your child set up before the season kicks into high gear? Contact us today to schedule an appointment and ask about adding a mouthguard fitting to your child’s next visit. We look forward to seeing you and your little athlete at Pine Tree Pediatric Dentistry.
