Title: Should Your Child Wear a Mouthguard on the Court? A Parent’s Guide
When packing a gym bag, a mouthguard is often forgotten, leaving smiles vulnerable. While sports like basketball are staples at Smile Sports, safety is the priority. Here is the quick, honest breakdown on protecting your child’s teeth.
Why Wear One?
Sports injuries account for nearly 40% of all childhood dental trauma. A good mouthguard does more than protect against chipped teeth; it acts as a shock absorber for the jaw, preventing cuts to the lips, tongue, and cheeks.
Basketball and Soccer = High Risk
Even though they are considered “non-contact,” basketball has the highest rate of dental injuries in youth sports. Rebounds and fast breaks often lead to elbow-to-mouth contact.
Choosing the Right Protection
Any guard is better than none, but here is the breakdown:
- Avoid “Stock” Guards: Pre-molded plastic is loose and hard to breathe in.
- Try “Boil-and-Bite”: Brands like Shock Doctor Gel Max or SISU Aero provide a great custom fit at home.
- The Best Option: A custom-made guard from a dentist which stays in place, allowing for easy breathing and communication.
- Note: If your child has braces, a dentist must fit them, as at-home kits can ruin brackets.
Our Mission: Protecting Every Child
We believe budget should never dictate safety. Through our holiday pop-up camps, Smile Sports partners with dental providers to ensure every camper leaves with a high-quality mouthguard, focusing on supporting kids in underfunded urban areas throughout Chicago.