Elbows go up for rebounds. Heads meet over a loose ball. A fast break ends with a fall on a hard floor. Kids get knocked around in every sport, and the mouth is usually the first thing to hit. A mouthguard is the one piece of equipment that protects the game and the smile at the same time, and a good one does not cost much.

Here is what we tell parents at our camps.

Why the pros wear one

The American Dental Association points to a 2019 review of the research: athletes who wore mouthguards were between 82 and 93 percent less likely to injure their teeth and face. In one study of college basketball players, dental injuries were five times less common among players wearing custom-fitted mouthguards.

Chicago saw why in January 2018. Bulls guard Kris Dunn stole the ball, went in for a dunk at the United Center, lost his balance off the rim and fell face first. He chipped and dislocated his two front teeth. Watch a game today and you will see plenty of players chewing on a mouthguard between plays. Kids notice that. It is the easiest way to make wearing one feel normal.

Which sports need one

The ADA recommends a mouthguard for contact sports such as football, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, wrestling and martial arts, and for many others, from basketball and baseball to gymnastics, skateboarding and volleyball. If a ball, a body or the ground can meet your child’s face, a mouthguard helps.

Three kinds, and which to buy

• Stock. Ready to wear and the cheapest. Often loose and bulky, which makes talking and breathing harder, so kids take them out.
• Boil and bite. Softened in hot water and shaped by your child’s own bite. A better fit for a small price, and the right place to start for most children. A few carry the ADA Seal of Acceptance, so look for it on the package.
• Custom. Made by a dentist from a mold of your child’s teeth. The best fit and the most protection, and the most expensive.

Children between eight and twelve are losing baby teeth and growing new ones, so a mouthguard will not fit forever. That is one more reason a boil and bite is a sensible first choice. If your child wears braces, ask your dentist which guard to use.

Getting a good fit

Follow the directions on the package. For most boil and bite guards that means softening it in hot water, letting it cool for a moment, then biting down firmly so it takes the shape of the teeth. A good fit stays in place without clenching, lets your child talk and breathe, and does not make them gag. If it falls out, fit it again or try the next size.

Keeping it clean

• Rinse it before and after every use, or brush it with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Wash it now and then in cool, soapy water.
• Keep it in a sturdy case with air holes so it can dry.
• Keep it out of the sun and hot water. A hot car will warp it.
• Replace it when it is worn, torn or loose. Growing kids need new ones more often than adults.

If a tooth gets knocked out

Stay calm and move quickly. For an adult tooth, the ADA advises:

1. Pick the tooth up by the top, not the root.
2. Keep it moist the whole time.
3. Try to place it back in the socket, without touching the root.
4. If it will not go back, carry it in a cup of milk.
5. Get to a dentist right away.

If it is a baby tooth, do not put it back in. Call your dentist. For a chipped or cracked tooth, rinse the mouth with warm water, hold a cold pack to the face, and call your dentist.

At a Smile Sports camp

In the Smile Zone at every camp, children learn why the pros wear a mouthguard, alongside brushing, flossing and what sports drinks do to teeth. Every family goes home with a short list of nearby dentists who told us they would see them. Any of them can help you choose the right mouthguard.

See our camp dates and sign up. Camp is free for every child.

This guide is general information. Your child’s dentist knows their teeth best. Sources: American Dental Association, Athletic Mouth Protectors · MouthHealthy, Mouthguards · MouthHealthy, Dental Emergencies · American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry · ESPN

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