April is Oral Health Month so, in honour, we are offering a special on Children’s Mouthguards for Sports!
There are many different sports accessible to kids these days, both recreational and organized.
Along with these activities, the proper gear must be considered. Kids need uniforms, appropriate clothing, shoes and equipment like hockey sticks, ice skates, cleats, shin guards, balls or skate boards and bicycles.
Safety equipment is important too.
Unlike years gone by, we now all consider the helmet an essential item for many sports, from cycling to hockey to ice skating. Typically, mouthguards were considered only for hockey, and not always at all levels. It may be time to rethink this. Could this be equated to when all kids would bike freely without any helmets (anyone old enough to remember doing this in the 70’s?). Any sport where there likely will be contact with hard surfaces or other kids is a good candidate for a mouthguard. Sports such as skiing, basketball, martial arts, gymnastics and lacrosse should or could require kids to wear mouthguards.
Kids mouthguards protect the teeth, gums, soft tissues and supporting bones. They absorb much of the impact in the unfortunate case of a sports injury to the mouth. If a sports related dental injury were to happen, damage can be long lasting, even resulting in a tooth pull.
There are various types of kids mouthguards, ranging in price, fit protection and comfort:
- Custom made mouthguards, made by your dentist, provide the most comfortable fit and the best protection. They are the most expensive – but we are offering a special promotion this spring so you can get your child outfitted with this type of guard at a decent price!
- Boil-and-bite mouthguards get boiled, and then the child bites into it to create an impression of their teeth. These have a bit more bulk than the custom made mouthguards and come in three sizes.
- Ready-made mouthguards are the least expensive but provide the least comfort and protection.
Great news! Mouthguards are on sale for Spring 2014 at Kits Family Dental! Prices for kids custom mouthguards are $50 (children < 12 years) or $75 for those over 12. Regular price is $200 CAD. Contact us today to make your appointment to get your child a custom mouthguard! We are located in on West Broadway (at Vine) in Kitsilano in Vancouver, BC.
