A knocked-out permanent tooth in a child is a dental emergency — and one that is largely preventable. Yet a significant proportion of young athletes play contact sports without any mouth protection at all.
The Risk Is Real
Sports-related dental injuries account for up to 39% of all dental trauma in children. Dental trauma can mean a chipped tooth requiring bonding, a fractured root requiring extraction, or a knocked-out permanent tooth. These are life-altering injuries that protective gear can prevent.
Custom vs. Store-Bought Guards
The boil-and-bite guards sold at pharmacies offer far less protection than their marketing suggests. They fit poorly, which means they do not stay in place during impact. A custom-fitted mouth guard, made from an impression of your child's teeth, fits precisely and stays in place — which is when protection actually works.
Which Sports Require Mouth Guards?
The Canadian Dental Association recommends mouth guards for all contact and collision sports. This includes hockey, football, rugby, basketball, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, martial arts, and even cycling and skateboarding.
Getting a Custom Guard
At Smileworks Dental, we take impressions of your child's teeth and fabricate a custom mouth guard that fits perfectly and provides real protection. Custom guards are not expensive and typically last a full sports season. Book an appointment at our Calgary clinic before the season starts.