Mouth guards are typically one of the more underestimated dental appliances when it comes oral care. But this is because people mostly associate them with professional athletes and do not think they would be beneficial to their kids. These devices are actually functional for an array of needs that growing children may have. Moreover, since they are custom fit for individual jaws, they have a high success rate when it comes to preventing and managing dental problems. The following are just a few of the reasons why you should consider getting mouth guards for your child.

Mouth guards to prevent sports injuries

If your child is in school, chances are they are engaged in numerous sports activities. And although kids' sports may not be as intense as professional sports, they still stand the risk of becoming injured while playing with their peers. A mouth guard would be a handy investment or an active school-goer as it would provide them with protection against oral injuries.

The guard functions to redistribute any of the force your child's mouth is exposed to in case of high impact. Thus, they would be less likely to acquire a chipped or a broken tooth while playing sports. Moreover, the mouth guard also protects the soft tissue in the mouth, decreasing the chances of cuts and bleeding.

Mouth guards to manage bruxism

Another reason why you may want to consider mouth guards for your child is if they suffer from teeth grinding. Although some children may outgrow this nighttime habit, it is not uncommon to find it persisting into adulthood with some other individuals. Therefore, it would be advisable to try to arrest this dental issue from the start. There are some dangers posed to your child' oral health when they suffer from bruxism. Firstly, the constant clenching of their teeth exerts excessive pressure on their jaws, and this can cause your child chronic headaches.

Secondly, bruxism that is left unencumbered will eventually lead to the abrasion of the enamel. Continuous erosion exposes the tooth pulp, and this will manifest as sensitive teeth. If not addressed, your child's teeth will become severely degraded, and over time, this will lead to your child requiring other dental procedures such as root canals and deal crown to fix the damage that the grinding has caused. Overall, mouth guards would be an excellent preventative measure to nip bruxism in the bad and retain the structural integrity of your child's teeth. 

For more information, contact a dentist.

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