Registration is done and the equipment list is growing. Add a mouthguard conversation to it, so your child’s guard suits their sport, their changing teeth and the way they breathe and talk while they play, with fit checks planned as the season goes on.
Sign-up week tends to bring a list: cleats, shin pads, a helmet that still fits. A mouthguard deserves a line of its own on that list whenever the activity involves contact, falls or a fast-moving ball, stick or puck. Choosing one well means thinking about the sport and about the particular teeth your child has this year.
For a Milton household already close to our Bronte Street practice, a guard check can slot in after school rather than becoming a special trip. Bring the current guard if there is one, and tell us about loose baby teeth, newly arrived adult teeth, past knocks to the mouth, or braces that are planned or already on.
A guard that sits in the bag protects nothing. We ask children directly how theirs feels: whether it slips, feels too thick, or makes it hard to call for the ball. Their answers shape the advice, and they are never treated as complaining.
Teeth and activities both shift from one season to the next. A quick review before play starts, and a call when something changes, keeps the plan current.
List everything your child does around Milton, including pickup games, skating, biking or gymnastics, not only the team that hands out a rule sheet. The dentist can talk through where mouth protection adds value and how it works alongside a helmet, a face shield and the sport’s own safety rules.
If your child clenches to keep the guard in place or comes home with a sore spot, that is a fit question for the clinician. Please avoid cutting it down at home. Let your child know that saying it feels wrong is helpful, not a fuss.
Losing a primary tooth, a permanent tooth erupting, or teeth shifting with orthodontics can all alter how a guard seats. Mention upcoming appliance changes so the plan can allow for them, and ask when the fit should be looked at again.
After a hit to the mouth, arrange an injury assessment where it is warranted, even with a guard in. A mouthguard lowers the risk; it does not prove nothing was damaged.
A sports mouthguard that fits properly helps lower the chance of injury to the teeth, lips, cheeks and gums. The Canadian Dental Association encourages families to consider custom-fitted guards. The reason is practical: a guard can only do its job if it stays where it should through the whole game.
It is still one piece of equipment, not a force field. A guard does not stand in for a helmet, a visor, fair-play rules or a medical check after a possible head injury, and no one should promise your family that it prevents concussion or every kind of dental injury.
Patient information: Canadian Dental Association — preventing sports-related oral injuries
Rather than going by the age range printed on a package, the clinician looks at the teeth, the bite and any appliance. Ask how the fit will be judged and what a good guard should feel like. What your child tells us counts in that judgement.
Trying a new guard at the clinic, without a coach waiting, lets your child learn how to put it in, take it out and pack it away. Raise questions then. Discomfort is worth reporting; it is not simply the price of being protected.
Children’s mouths keep changing, so fit needs revisiting. Ask which signs should bring you back, and pack the guard for regular dental visits. The goal is suitable protection at each stage, not stretching one guard well past the point it fits.
Start the conversation well ahead of opening day. The timeline depends on the type of guard chosen, and a first assessment does not mean the guard leaves with you that day.
Share the activity, your child’s level, the gear they already use, any earlier injuries and any orthodontic plans. An old guard is useful for comparison. If your child finds things in the mouth hard to tolerate, say so early so we can plan around it.
The clinician checks teeth, bite, eruption and appliances, then explains how a custom guard compares with retail options for your child. This is the time to ask about appointments, cost and how often replacement might be needed before you decide.
A custom guard is made from records of the teeth, taken in whatever way the clinician arranges. Mention a strong gag reflex or sensory sensitivity ahead of time. Ask when it should be ready and whether a fitting appointment is part of the plan.
When the guard is ready, we check how well it stays put and how breathing and talking feel with it in. Your child practises handling it, and you go over cleaning and storage. Ask when to come back, and what to do if a tooth erupts, the guard splits or braces change the fit.
Use the care instructions that come with the specific guard. Younger children usually need a parent to run the routine until it becomes habit.
Rinse and clean the guard the way you were shown, using products that suit its material. Let it air-dry, then keep it in a vented case. Keep it out of high heat, including a parked car on a warm day, which can warp the shape.
Every so often, check for tears, thin spots, warping or rough edges. Encourage your child to wear it properly rather than gnaw on it on the bench. Teammates should not borrow it, and glue is not a fix for a damaged guard.
Bring the guard to checkups, and call before then if it stops seating comfortably. New teeth, lost teeth, fillings and braces can all change the fit. The date it was made says less about suitability than how it fits now.
Patient information: Fraser Health — choosing and caring for sports mouthguards
Parents ask about timing, growth, cleaning and lost guards. Knowing when a fit needs another look is part of being ready.
Get in touch with our Bronte Street practice in Milton to plan your child’s sports protection. Bring the guard they use now, a list of their activities, and any news about braces or recent dental changes.
The type of guard, fit, timing and replacement are discussed for each child. Any injury still needs assessment, even if a guard was worn.
