When a teammate chips a tooth, every parent on the sidelines starts asking questions. We give you straight answers about what a children’s sports mouthguard can and cannot do, which type may suit your child, and how fit, comfort and growth affect protection.
Often it starts with someone else’s child: a stick to the face at practice, a chipped front tooth, a worried phone call. Suddenly the mouthguard your child barely wears becomes a topic at the dinner table, and so does the question of whether a better one would have made a difference.
The useful answer is specific. A guard is designed to help protect teeth and the soft tissue around them; how well it does that depends on how it fits and whether it is worn. Bring your child and their current guard, and tell us about the sports they play, loose or new teeth, any earlier injuries and orthodontic plans.
Your child’s view belongs in that conversation. If they find the guard awkward, too big or hard to breathe around, they will skip it when nobody is watching. Coming from Acton, it is worth raising those complaints in one visit so we can address them together.
On an Acton field or a rink further afield, a guard can only do its part when it suits the activity and the mouth. Check it before play starts and whenever your child notices a change.
Body contact, falls and fast equipment raise the chance of a mouth injury, rule or no rule. Talk through each of your child’s activities and ask how a guard fits with the helmet, face protection and the way the sport is played.
A guard that slips, needs biting to hold, or makes breathing and talking awkward is less likely to protect and less likely to be worn. Bring it in instead of trimming it, and make sure your child knows complaints are welcome.
Losing primary teeth, new permanent teeth and orthodontic movement can all change the fit. Mention any planned braces or appliance adjustments and ask the clinician how the guard should account for them and when it needs another look.
Wearing a guard does not mean an injury can be ignored. After a blow to the mouth, arrange an assessment when needed; protection lowers risk but cannot exclude damage.
When it fits properly, a sports mouthguard helps reduce injuries to the teeth and to the gums, lips and cheeks. The Canadian Dental Association supports considering custom-fitted guards, because a guard that stays seated during play is better placed to do its job.
Here is the limit, plainly stated: a mouthguard does not make a sport safe. It complements a helmet, a face cage or visor, fair rules and a doctor’s assessment when a head injury is suspected. It is not concussion protection, and no guard can promise to prevent every dental injury.
Patient information: Canadian Dental Association — preventing sports-related oral injuries
The clinician considers your child’s teeth, bite and appliances rather than a size printed on a box. Ask how fit will be checked and how a suitable guard should feel. Your child’s comments help shape the advice.
Practising with the guard in a quiet setting teaches your child how to insert it, take it out and store it. It is easier to ask questions there than at the rink. Ongoing discomfort deserves a call, not silence.
Growth keeps changing the fit. Ask which signs should bring you back and bring the guard to routine visits. Protection that suits each stage matters more than one guard that lasts for years.
Ask early, ideally before the season begins. Timing depends on the guard you choose, and the assessment does not come with immediate delivery.
Tell us what prompted the visit, along with your child’s sports, level, current gear, earlier injuries and orthodontic treatment. Bring the existing guard. If your child struggles with things in the mouth, say so up front.
The clinician checks the teeth, bite, eruption and appliances, then explains how custom and retail options differ for your child, including what each can and cannot offer. Ask about visits, cost and replacement before you decide.
If a custom guard is chosen, records of the teeth are taken using the method the clinician arranges. Mention a strong gag reflex or sensory sensitivity in advance. Ask when it should be ready and whether a fitting is part of the plan.
We check retention and comfort, and how your child breathes and speaks with the guard in. They practise with it while you hear about cleaning and storage. Ask when the next review should be, and which changes, like a new tooth or a tear, mean calling sooner.
Use the instructions for your child’s specific guard. Plan to supervise for a while until the routine becomes your child’s own.
Rinse and clean the guard as you were shown, with products appropriate for its material. Let it air-dry and keep it in a ventilated case. Heat can warp it, so don’t leave it in a hot vehicle.
Check regularly for tears, worn spots, distortion or sharp edges. Chewing wears a guard down, so encourage your child to wear it properly. Don’t share it, and don’t try to glue a damaged guard back together.
Bring the guard to dental appointments, and call earlier if it no longer seats comfortably. New teeth, lost teeth, fillings and braces can all change the fit. Whether it still fits matters more than how long you have had it.
Patient information: Fraser Health — choosing and caring for sports mouthguards
Questions cover protection limits, fit, cleaning and what to do after an accident. Knowing when to recheck the fit helps too.
Contact our Bronte Street practice to discuss sports protection for your child. Bring their current guard, a list of activities, and any details about braces or recent dental changes.
Which guard, how it fits, how long it takes to make and when to replace it are decided child by child. Having worn a guard never means an injury can be skipped over.
