Since 1966 the Pediatric Dental Group has been providing compassionate dental care to the children of Honolulu. The dentists at Pediatric Dental Group believe that daily oral care and preventative care is especially important for children.

Many children enjoy healthy and active lifestyles, and that’s great! But it’s important to take the proper safety precautions to protect their physical safety. Pediatric dentistry isn't just about teeth cleaning and repair; it's also about prevention and instilling good habits. 

Kids who play sports, for example, should always wear mouth guards even if they aren’t playing a full contact sport. Many injuries occur simply because a child falls down, gets hit with a ball, or is accidentally bumped into or kicked.

Kids who play sports are more likely to sustain injuries than kids who don’t. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, 84% of children play organized sports without wearing a mouth guard because they are not required to by their league or organization. However, mouth guards are inexpensive and effective at preventing serious oral injury.

The National Youth Sports Foundation For Safety recently reported that athletes of all varieties who do not wear mouth guards are 60 times more likely to suffer tooth damage than those who wear them with regularity. While tooth injuries are not life threatening, they can be extremely painful and very expensive to repair. Teeth can be knocked out completely, fractured, chipped, or shifted into an incorrect position.

The dentists at Pediatric Dental Group believe that something as easy as purchasing a mouth guard for your child is an obvious choice for preventative care. This one simple decision can save you and your child pain, time, and money. Children’s mouth guards can be purchased in many sizes at most sporting goods retail stores for a minimal cost.  Custom-fit mouthguards which are more comfortable and stable can also be made in dental offices as well.

If you have any questions regarding the correct sized mouth guard for your child, or other preventative oral health techniques, feel free to call Pediatric Dental Group at (808) 593-8828.