Why Your Child Needs a Custom Mouthguard Before Summer Sports Season Starts

Summer in San Antonio means longer days, warmer weather, and a packed schedule of sports camps, league games, and backyard competitions. From baseball and softball to soccer, basketball, skateboarding, and swimming, kids across Helotes and the surrounding communities will be more active than ever over the next few months. What many parents don't realize is that dental injuries spike during summer—and a properly fitted mouthguard is one of the simplest ways to prevent them.

At Helotes Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, Dr. Kara Whittington, Dr. Poonam Shah, Dr. Jordan Nolan, and Dr. Noor Mansouri see the consequences of unprotected play throughout the year. Dr. Whittington, a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist who completed her residency at UT Health San Antonio-Laredo after earning her DDS from UTHSCSA, emphasizes that prevention is always preferable to treatment when it comes to dental trauma. A knocked-out tooth, fractured front tooth, or injury to the jaw can require extensive treatment and affect a child's smile for years to come.

The Summer Sports Injury Problem

Studies suggest that athletes are 60 times more likely to sustain dental damage when not wearing a mouthguard. During summer months, the risk increases further as children participate in more activities, often with less supervision than organized school sports provide. Pickup basketball games, bike riding, trampoline jumping, and even roughhousing at the pool can result in dental emergencies.

The American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for more than 20 sports and recreational activities, including many that parents might not immediately associate with dental risk. Contact sports like football and hockey obviously require protection, but so do activities like gymnastics, martial arts, volleyball, and mountain biking. Any activity where a fall, collision, or flying object could impact the face warrants mouth protection.

What Happens When a Tooth Gets Knocked Out

When a permanent tooth is completely knocked out, it's a dental emergency that requires immediate action. The tooth must be handled carefully by the crown rather than the root, kept moist, and ideally replanted within 30 minutes to have the best chance of survival. Even with optimal treatment, knocked-out teeth don't always survive, and the child may eventually need dental implants or other replacement options.

Fractured teeth present their own challenges. Depending on the severity, treatment might involve dental bonding, crowns, root canals, or extraction. Injuries to baby teeth can also affect the developing permanent teeth underneath, potentially causing discoloration, malformation, or eruption problems years later.

The emotional impact matters too. Children who injure their front teeth often become self-conscious about their appearance, which can affect their confidence during critical developmental years.

Why Store-Bought Mouthguards Fall Short

Many parents assume that any mouthguard provides adequate protection, so they pick up an inexpensive option at a sporting goods store. While some protection is better than none, stock mouthguards and boil-and-bite varieties have significant limitations.

Stock mouthguards come in predetermined sizes and offer the least protection and comfort. They typically fit poorly, make breathing and speaking difficult, and children often remove them during activity because they're so uncomfortable.

Boil-and-bite mouthguards are better but still imperfect. The fitting process can be tricky, and the resulting protection depends heavily on how well the molding was performed. These guards also tend to be bulkier than custom options and may not provide optimal coverage.

Custom mouthguards, created from precise impressions of your child's teeth, offer superior protection, comfort, and durability. Because they fit exactly to your child's unique dental anatomy, they stay in place during activity, allow normal breathing and speaking, and provide consistent coverage where it's needed most.

The Custom Mouthguard Advantage

Custom mouthguards are fabricated using detailed impressions or digital scans of your child's teeth. The dental team creates a guard that matches every contour of the teeth and gums, distributing impact forces evenly and reducing the risk of injury significantly.

Benefits of custom mouthguards include:

• Better Protection: The precise fit means the guard stays in place during impact, protecting teeth, gums, lips, and jaw joints effectively.
• Improved Comfort: Children actually wear comfortable mouthguards. A guard that doesn't interfere with breathing or feel bulky is one that stays in the mouth during play.
• Durability: Custom guards are made from higher-quality materials and last longer than store-bought alternatives, making them more cost-effective over time.
• Accommodation for Braces: For children undergoing orthodontic treatment, custom mouthguards can be designed to fit over brackets and wires, protecting both the teeth and the orthodontic appliances.

Mouthguards and Orthodontic Treatment

Children and teens with braces face unique challenges when it comes to sports protection. The brackets and wires that straighten teeth can also cause significant soft tissue injuries during impact if not properly protected. A blow to the mouth can cut lips and cheeks on orthodontic hardware, and brackets can be damaged or dislodged.

Dr. Noor Mansouri, the practice's Board Certified Orthodontist, works closely with the pediatric dental team to ensure that young athletes in braces have appropriate protection. Orthodontic mouthguards are designed with extra room to accommodate brackets and provide a buffer between the hardware and soft tissues. As treatment progresses and teeth move, the mouthguard may need periodic adjustment or replacement to maintain proper fit.

When to Get a Mouthguard

The ideal time to get a custom mouthguard is before summer activities begin—which means May is perfect timing. The fitting appointment is quick and painless, typically taking just a few minutes to capture the impressions or scans needed. The completed mouthguard is usually ready within a week or two.

Parents should also consider replacement timing. Children's mouths change as they grow, lose baby teeth, and gain permanent teeth. A mouthguard that fit perfectly last summer may no longer provide adequate protection this year. Additionally, mouthguards can become worn, ill-fitting, or damaged over time and should be inspected regularly.

Bring your child's mouthguard to dental checkups so the team can assess its condition and fit. If you notice any cracks, tears, or if your child complains that it no longer feels right, schedule an appointment for evaluation.

Teaching Good Mouthguard Habits

Getting a mouthguard is only half the equation—your child also needs to wear it consistently. Establishing good habits early makes compliance easier. Store the mouthguard in its protective case when not in use, rinse it before and after each use, and clean it regularly with a toothbrush and cool water. Hot water can warp the material and affect the fit.

Make wearing the mouthguard non-negotiable for designated activities, just like wearing a helmet for biking or a seatbelt in the car. When children understand that protective equipment is simply part of participating in sports, they're more likely to use it consistently without complaint.

Beyond the Mouthguard: Complete Summer Dental Prep

While you're thinking about summer sports protection, it's also an excellent time to schedule your child's regular dental checkup. The Helotes Pediatric Dentistry team can examine teeth and gums, complete any needed preventive treatments like cleanings and fluoride applications, and address any issues before your family's schedule fills up with summer activities.

For children with orthodontic needs, summer can be an ideal time to begin treatment. With school pressures reduced and more flexible scheduling available, kids can adapt to their new braces or aligners with less disruption to their routine.

Schedule Your Child's Mouthguard Fitting in Helotes

Dr. Kara Whittington, Dr. Poonam Shah, Dr. Jordan Nolan, and Dr. Noor Mansouri welcome families throughout the San Antonio area to Helotes Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics for comprehensive pediatric dental and orthodontic care. From preventive services and restorative treatment to custom mouthguards and braces, the practice offers everything growing smiles need in a warm, child-friendly environment.

The office is conveniently located at 11600 Bandera Rd, Suite 126, in San Antonio, with appointments available Monday through Friday and Saturday hours by appointment for busy families. Call (210) 256-8581 to schedule your child's custom mouthguard fitting or dental checkup before summer gets into full swing.

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