Why You Need a Mouthguard from a Dentist in Northwest Dallas

Football season is back and chances are your child is quite excited to get on the field. He’s got his protective pads and helmet all ready to go and he can’t stop talking about the next practice that’s coming up. When you start going over his gear, you quickly realize that his current boil-and-bite mouthguard from the local pharmacy is badly damaged.

Instead of opting for store-bought solutions that won’t even make it through the season, why not choose one made by a dentist in Northwest Dallas?

The Stats on Sports Injuries

Whether it’s for your active child or teenager, mouthguards are a necessity, especially when playing football. According to a study conducted by the North Carolina Dental Society Mouth Guard Project, one third of all dental injuries are sports-related. By wearing a mouthguard, more than 200,000 oral injuries can be prevented each year.

Furthermore, another study titled Oral Trauma in Adolescent Athletes: A Study of Mouth Protectors, researchers found that 75 percent of injuries occurred when mouth guards were not worn. Forty percent of those injuries occurred while playing either baseball or basketball, meaning that this issue is not exclusive to football players. Nine percent suffered some type of oral injury and 56 percent of all concussions were suffered when mouthguards were not worn.

Of course, the occurrence of trauma while playing sports is only going up, according to this report. That means having a mouthguard that’s long-lasting, not just present, is key to making sure your child stays protected.

Over-the-Counter Mouthguards Can’t Compare

If you’ve seen mouthguards in your local pharmacy before, you’ve probably seen them priced pretty low, averaging around $15 and $35. Boil-and-bite mouthguards allow consumers to heat up their mouthguards and bite into them, therefore creating some resemblance of a custom bite. However, it’s exactly this pliable material that prevents mouthguards of this variety from lasting as long as they should.

Additionally, the cost of replacing a mouthguard on a regular basis is less cost-efficient than having a dedicated mouthguard that lasts for years at a time.

Professionally-Made Mouthguards Get it Right

When you get a mouthguard from a dentist, you get your child’s exact bite casted into an extremely durable material. They don’t lose their shape like store-bought mouthguards nor do they shift around when in use. By going through the process of customizing the mouthguard exactly, you can give your child optimal comfort and protection. Not only does that mean they’ll feel protected while playing their favorite sport, but they’ll feel more inclined to wear it because of the additional comfort a custom mouthguard provides.

Is your child prepared for the upcoming football season? Do they play another sport that puts their oral health at risk? Schedule an appointment to learn how a dentist can help!

About Bear Creek Family Dentistry

Bear Creek Family Dentistry only hires the most experienced pediatric dentists in the North Dallas area. Their expertise ensures that your child receives a dental device that works for them and withstands the test of time. To learn more about getting a mouthguard made or about the practice, you can contact them through their website.