Spring Sports Season: Does Your Child Need a Mouthguard? A Canton Dentist Weighs In

Spring in Canton, Georgia means one thing for families: sports season is back! Baseball and softball diamonds are filling up, soccer fields are packed, and youth lacrosse and basketball leagues are in full swing. As exciting as that is, it’s also the time of year we see the most sports-related dental injuries at Sunrise Family Dentistry.

A knocked-out or chipped tooth from a sports injury is one of the most common pediatric dental emergencies — and the majority of them are preventable with one simple piece of equipment: a mouthguard.

Which Sports Require a Mouthguard?

The American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for the following sports:

• Football, hockey, and lacrosse (mandatory in most leagues)

• Basketball and soccer (high contact risk despite no mandates)

• Baseball and softball (especially for catchers and batters)

• Gymnastics, cheerleading, and martial arts

• Skateboarding and cycling (any sport with fall risk)

Store-Bought vs. Custom Mouthguard: What’s the Difference?

Boil-and-bite mouthguards from the sporting goods store offer some protection, but they have real limitations. They’re often bulky, uncomfortable, and don’t stay in place well — which means kids take them out. Custom mouthguards made at our Canton dental office are fabricated from an exact mold of your child’s teeth. They fit perfectly, stay in place during activity, are thinner and more comfortable, and provide significantly better protection against impact.

What Happens If You Skip the Mouthguard?

Sports-related dental injuries can include chipped or cracked teeth, teeth knocked loose or completely out, jaw fractures, cuts to lips and tongue, and damage to existing dental work like braces or crowns. Treatment for a knocked-out permanent tooth can run into thousands of dollars — and sometimes the tooth simply can’t be saved. A custom mouthguard costs a fraction of that and lasts an entire season.

What to Do If a Tooth Gets Knocked Out

If your child knocks out a permanent tooth during sports, act fast: pick up the tooth by the crown (not the root), rinse it gently with water, try to place it back in the socket if possible, or keep it moist in milk or saliva, and get to a dentist immediately. Sunrise Family Dentistry offers same-day emergency appointments — call us at (470) 863-1169 right away.

Protect your young athlete’s smile this spring. Schedule a visit at Sunrise Family Dentistry and ask about custom mouthguards. Located at 11242 Cumming Hwy, Suite 109, Canton, GA. Serving Canton, Cumming, Ball Ground, Alpharetta, and surrounding areas.