If you both love and loathe your child’s playing time on the court, you’re not alone. Despite the fun of game day, youth basketball injuries include jaw fractures, wounded tongues, and damage to the teeth. To prevent accidents that lead to oral surgery, the dentists at Lowitz & Meier encourage all children to play with an athletic mouthguard. Most of the options on today’s market are affordable, especially when combined with a custom-fit mold.

By putting in a mouthguard before a basketball game, you can prevent a host of cosmetic and structural dental problems for your children. Here, Lowitz & Meier go on to outline the dramatic risk prevention provided by these oral mechanisms.

How Mouthguards Can Prevent Oral Surgery

While youth participation in sports continues to grow, so do dental emergencies. Fortunately, you can keep basketball fun and cross surgeries off the schedule by remembering to pack the mouthguard in your child’s gym bag. Mouthguards help with: 

• Tooth Chip & Break Prevention: A mouthguard’s hard plastic prevents teeth from chipping or breaking if a ball or eager hand hits your child’s mouth. 
• Cheek, Lip & Tongue Protection:  Mouthguards act as a barrier between delicate cheeks and lips and aggressive foreign objects. They also keep players from biting their tongue. 
• Jaw Safeguard: On average, the risk of a jaw bone fracture significantly diminishes when your basketball enthusiast wears a mouthguard. 
• Braces & Oral Appliances Preservation:  Braces and similar oral appliances can be expensive. Preserve their integrity and the state of your child’s smile with a high-quality mouthguard.

With regular use, your child’s mouthguard will prevent a host of dental injuries. Just remember to clean this helpful piece to prevent bacteria from spreading to cuts and lesions. To make an appointment with Lowitz & Meier, Cincinnati's local dentistry and oral surgery team, call (513) 521-8900. Visit their website to learn more about their trusted dental services.