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It’s essential to protect your child’s teeth when they play sports, but if they wear braces, it becomes even more critical. Instead of keeping them from playing, you can ask their orthodontist for a custom mouthguard to help. Here’s what you should know about the importance of protecting braces and the different types of mouthguards available.

Why Should You Protect Their Braces?

Orthodontics are a staple of dentistry that reposition your child’s teeth into a more pleasing and functional alignment. When your child plays a sport, they’re vulnerable to mouth injuries from balls, falls, and running into other players. If you don’t take measures to protect your child’s orthodontic appliances, they could become damaged. Beyond this, the braces themselves could injure your child, as the metal wires and brackets can cut their gums, lips, and tongue if they break or are pushed into them.

What Should You Know About Mouthguards?

bracesMouthguards fit over the teeth and act as a shield to protect them from injury. There are three main mouthguards that are available. Stock mouthguards can be found at convenience stores and pharmacies, but they’re a one-size-fits-all solution and offer minimal protection. With the boil-and-bite option, boil the unformed mouthguard to soften it, and then gently bite down on it to mold it to your teeth; these are more costly and do more to protect teeth since they provide a tighter fit, but they wear down quickly, can irritate gums, and only absorb so much impact. The best option to protect your child’s orthodontics is to have a mouthguard custom made by their orthodontist; they’ll use a high-quality material and precision technology to provide the perfect fit, providing long-lasting and comfortable protection for your child.

 

If your child needs a customized mouthguard to protect their braces during sports, contact the orthodontist at Mosling Orthodontics in La Crosse, WI. These experts provide specialized orthodontic care, including aligners, retainers, and protective mouthguards. For over 20 years, they’ve offered advanced care to the Coulee Region in a comfortable environment, and their two therapy dogs make patients feel even more at ease. Visit them online to learn more about their services, and call (608) 782-1950 to schedule a consultation today.

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