Mouth guards, also known as sports guards or athletic mouth protectors, are crucial pieces of equipment for any child participating in potentially injurious recreational or sporting activities.  Fitting snugly over the upper teeth, mouth guards protect the entire oral region from traumatic injury, preserving both the esthetic appearance and the health of the smile.  In addition, mouth guards are sometimes used to prevent tooth damage in children who grind (brux) their teeth at night.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) in particular, advocates for the use of dental mouth guards during any sporting or recreational activity.  Most store-bought mouth guards cost fewer than ten dollars, making them a perfect investment for every parent.

Since Dr. Roethele was the captain of the football team at USL he enjoys being close to the action on the field. He also is a strong advocate for custom fabricated mouthguards as he was a victim of the old boil and bite mouthguard. As a member of the Academy for Sports Dentistry since 1989, Dr. Roethele is the team dentist for many local athletic teams and the Official Dentist of the Sugar Bowl. He lectures to other dentists around the country on the treatment and prevention of sports related injuries. As a sports dentist and former athlete Dr. Jim is a football coach at Woodlake Playground and runs the annual Greg Lewis Football Camp in July.

How can mouth guards protect my child?

The majority of sporting organizations now require that participants routinely wear mouth guards.  Though mouth guards are primarily designed to protect the teeth, they can also vastly reduce the degree of force transmitted from a trauma impact point (jaw) to the central nervous system (base of the brain).  In this way, mouth guards help minimize the risk of traumatic brain injury, which is especially important for younger children.

Mouth guards also reduce the prevalence of the following injuries:

• Cheek lesions
• Concussions
• Gum and soft tissue injuries
• Jawbone fractures
• Lip lesions
• Neck injuries
• Tongue lesions
• Tooth fractures

What type of mouth guard should I purchase for my child?

Though there are literally thousands of mouth guard brands, most brands fall into three major categories: stock mouth guards, boil and bite mouth guards, and customized mouth guards.

Some points to consider when choosing a mouth guard include:

• How much money is available to spend?
• How often does the child play sports?
• What kind of sport does the child play? (Basketball and baseball tend to cause the most oral injuries).

In light of these points, here is an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of mouth guard:

Stock mouth guards – These mouth guards can be bought directly off the shelf and immediately fitted into the child’s mouth.  The fit is universal (one-size-fits-all), meaning that that the mouth guard doesn’t adjust.  Stock mouth guards are very cheap, easy to fit, and quick to locate at sporting goods stores.  Pediatric dentists favor this type of mouth guard least, as it provides minimal protection, obstructs proper breathing and speaking, and tends to be uncomfortable.

Boil and bite mouth guards – These mouth guards are usually made from thermoplastic and are easily located at most sporting goods stores.  First, the thermoplastic must be immersed in hot water to make it pliable, and then it must be pressed on the child’s teeth to create a custom mold.  Boil and bite mouth guards are slightly more expensive than stock mouth guards, but tend to offer more protection, feel more comfortable in the mouth, and allow for easy speech production and breathing.

Customized mouth guards – These mouth guards offer the greatest degree of protection, and are custom-made by the dentist.  First, the dentist makes an impression of the child’s teeth using special material, and then the mouth guard is constructed over the mold.  Customized mouth guards are more expensive and take longer to fit, but are more comfortable, orthodontically correct, and fully approved by the dentist.

Roethele Dental Esthetics has joined forces with Under Armour for “Performance Enhancing Mouthwear”. The same principles of protection and increased performance that Dr. Jim has been providing and lecturing about for the last 20 years is now fabricated by Under Armour Laboratories. They are enhancing the performance of an athlete in any sport along with protection you’ve come to expect from Roethele Dental Esthetics. Dr. Roethele decided to become a dentist after a football accident occurred while wearing a store bought “boil and bite” mouthpiece at the age of 11. As a dentist and former college football player he understands the importance of mouth protection and has been excited about contributing to improved athletic performance. Call Roethele Dental Esthetics at 461-0500 to schedule an appointment for the new Performance Mouthwear by Under Armour!