Put Me in Coach! Orthodontic Mouth Guards

One of the most frequently asked questions by parents concerning their children is: “Now that my child has braces, can he/she play sports?" The answer is YES. We at Cigna Kroboth Orthodontists in Hopewell Junction, NY know how important it is for a child to maintain physical activity. Playing sports is a great source of exercise and vital to a young person’s health. However to avoid damage, proper precautions must be taken. A misplaced hockey stick or contact with a hard ball or surface may cause damage to the brackets or wires. We recommend that your child be fitted with an orthodontic mouth guard to assure your child a safe athletic experience.

Orthodontic mouth guards are better for your child’s braces rather than a regular one purchased in a sports store. A regular mouth guard is thermoplastic. They require being heated and molded to fit your teeth during initial use. With braces, your child’s teeth are being gradually straightened and moved during the process. This will negate the regular mouth guard to provide adequate support and protection.  

The other problem with a regular mouth guard is that it fits against the brackets too comfortably. If a child is hit in the mouth hard enough, the force will dislodge most of the brackets off of the teeth.  This will then lead to extra orthodontist visits for repairs.

Most orthodontic mouth guards are up of made of a high grade silicone which will fit into the mouth perfectly every time. It also has flanges that fit under your child’s lips to avoid any abrasion or contact with the brackets on top of the teeth. This will prevent the lips from being trapped under the braces and cause swelling or cuts. Orthodontic mouth guard should be used for any major contact sports such as soccer, football, basketball, wrestling, hockey and baseball

Cigna Kroboth Orthodontists in Hopewell Junction, NY will give you all the information you need on which orthodontic mouth guards are best for your children. The growth and development of their teeth is our number one priority. Visit our webpage at cignaorthodontics.com or call us today at 845-227-7880 to schedule an appointment. Cigna Kroboth Orthodontists is located at 1123 Route 82 in Hopewell Junction NY.