Now that it’s back-to-school season, parents who have child athletes in the family are already having to gear up for fall sports.
That means it’s time to visit Northwest Dental Group for a custom athletic mouthguard! It’s the best way to protect their teeth and gums from dental injuries throughout the season.
The Problem With Store-Bought Athletic Mouthguards
Here are just a few of the problems you could face with commercial mouthguards found in stores:
*Poor Quality*
If you want a piece of equipment to last the entire sports season, you know that quality matters.
Buying a cheap commercial mouthguard from the sporting goods store may seem like a better financial decision at first, but it could result in more costs down the road.
That could be due to the inferior material buckling under the pressure of high impact, or from the costly dental treatment that’s needed as a result of injuries sustained because of inadequate protection.
*Poor Fit*
You wouldn’t let your child play a sport without the proper padding or let them wear pants or shoes that were too big.
That’s because it would pose a risk to their physical safety!
The same is true for an athletic mouthguard. The fit is incredibly important if the gear they’re wearing is going to protect them like it’s supposed to.
If the mouthguard is too big and bulky, it may not even be comfortable enough to wear in the first place, let alone stay in place when your child does wear it.
*Poor Performance*
It’s not only the performance of the mouthguard itself that we’re referring to, here.
It’s the performance of the athlete on the court and the field, as well.
Both are impacted by an inferior product.
The purpose of a mouthguard is to protect, but one that’s made out of cheap material won’t provide the durability or cushion needed to withstand blunt force contact. Consequently, the teeth and gums aren’t adequately protected.
As far as athletic performance, a player must be able to breathe and concentrate to do their job well, and that can’t happen easily if their mouthguard is slipping around on them.
Why A Mouthguard Should Be Customized
Any athletic gear you wear that doesn’t fit well is going to fail you in every way.
Not only will you be uncomfortable, but you’ll be more distracted and less safe.
That’s why your child’s athletic mouthguard should be completely customized. To ensure proper fit, we take digital impressions of your child’s teeth so that their mouthguard will stay in place comfortably and provide full protection. This will not only increase the likelihood that your child will wear it, but that they’ll be able to breathe, move, and perform more easily during a game.
We also use a much more durable plastic material than store-bought products so that they can better withstand the impact of blunt contact.
You may even be able to get your child’s mouthguard to match their team colors!
Get Your Athletic Mouthguard Now!
It’s time to start thinking about fall sports and how to best protect your child athlete from dental injuries.
Visit your Rochester dentist for a custom athletic mouthguard to protect your child’s smile!
Call Northwest Dental Group today at 507-315-2932 or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment.