A hit to the mouth can turn a fun game into a dental emergency in seconds. If your child plays sports in Calgary, a mouthguard is one of the smartest pieces of gear you can add to their bag.
This guide explains when kids need a mouthguard, which sports call for one, how different types of guards compare, and when to contact Calgary Smiles for a sports-related dental injury.
Table of Contents | Mouthguards for Kids in Calgary: When Does Your Child Need One for Sports?
- Key Takeaways
- When Does Your Child Need a Mouthguard for Sports in Calgary?
- Sports That Need a Mouthguard
- When to Review Your Child’s Mouthguard
- Custom-Fit vs. Store-Bought Sports Mouthguards
- What Parents Should Know About Mouthguard Fit
- Mouthguards for Kids with Braces
- When to Replace Your Child’s Mouthguard
- What to Do If a Dental Injury Happens During Sports
- Conclusion: Help Protect Your Child’s Smile Before the Season Starts
- FAQs About Mouthguards for Kids in Calgary
Key Takeaways
- Mouthguards are recommended for sports and activities with a risk of dental or facial injury.
- Custom guards offer the most individualized fit, while a properly fitted boil-and-bite guard can also be effective.
- Children with braces need extra care since brackets can cut lips and cheeks.
- Choosing the right mouthguard depends on your child’s age, sport, braces, and stage of tooth growth.
When Does Your Child Need a Mouthguard for Sports in Calgary?
A mouthguard is recommended for sports and activities that carry a risk of dental or facial injury. That includes hockey, lacrosse, basketball, soccer, football, martial arts, skateboarding, BMX, ringette, rugby, field hockey, skiing, and snowboarding.
If your child could take a hit to the face, a mouthguard is a sensible part of their sports gear. School teams, club leagues, weekend training, and practice all count. Ask the provider who supplies your child’s mouthguard about the right fit for their age, sport, braces, and stage of tooth growth.
A sports mouthguard cushions the teeth. It also protects the lips, cheeks, tongue, and jaw from direct impact. The Canadian Dental Association says mouthguards reduce the risk of dental injuries during sports and recreation.
Mouth injuries can have lasting effects. A broken adult tooth may need ongoing care, and a knocked-out tooth needs fast action.
A mouthguard doesn’t replace a helmet, face cage, safe coaching, or safe play. It also doesn’t prevent every head injury. It protects the mouth, and that’s an essential role.
Sports That Need a Mouthguard
Hockey and lacrosse make the need clear in Calgary. Basketball, soccer, baseball, and softball also carry a risk of mouth injuries.
Use this simple rule: if your child’s sport carries a risk of dental or facial injury, choose a mouthguard.
Mouthguards are recommended for:
- Hockey, lacrosse, and ringette
- Football and rugby
- Basketball and soccer
- Baseball and softball
- Martial arts, boxing, and wrestling
- Field hockey
- Skateboarding, BMX, and scootering
- Skiing and snowboarding
When to Review Your Child’s Mouthguard
Growing teeth, changing bites, and braces can affect how a mouthguard fits.
Review your child’s mouthguard when they start a contact sport, move into a faster or more physical league, get braces or other orthodontic care, or have chipped, cracked, or injured a tooth before. It’s also worth contacting the provider who supplied the guard if it feels loose, tight, bulky, uncomfortable, or worn.
Kids are honest about gear. If it feels uncomfortable, it stays in the bag. A guard only works when they wear it.
Custom-Fit vs. Store-Bought Sports Mouthguards
A store-bought mouthguard looks easy. You buy it, boil it, bite down, and hope for the best. Some kids tolerate it, but many don’t.
A custom-fit sports mouthguard is different. It’s shaped for a child’s mouth, so it can sit snugly, feel slimmer, and stay in place during sport.
A guard that fits well makes it easier to breathe, talk, drink water, and focus on the game.
Custom guards generally offer the most individualized fit. A properly fitted boil-and-bite guard can also be effective when it’s worn consistently.
What Parents Should Know About Mouthguard Fit
A well-fitting mouthguard should protect your child’s mouth without feeling bulky.
- For a custom-fit guard, the provider who supplies it may check your child’s teeth and bite, then take a mould or digital scan.
- The finished guard should provide secure coverage, comfort, and easy breathing.
- If your child uses a helmet or cage, make sure the mouthguard works with the rest of the equipment.
Mouthguards for Kids with Braces
Braces change the game. Brackets and wires can cut the inside of the lips and cheeks during a hit. Teeth also move during orthodontic care, so fit matters more.
Children with braces should ask their orthodontic provider before choosing or molding a mouthguard.
Ask your child’s orthodontic provider which guard gives teeth room to move while protecting the mouth. If your child gets braces after receiving a guard, contact the provider who supplied it about a new fit check. The right option depends on the braces, sport, and stage of treatment.
When to Replace Your Child’s Mouthguard
Kids grow quickly, so a mouthguard from last season may not fit the same way this season. Replace or reassess it when it no longer fits, is damaged, or your child’s teeth or orthodontic treatment have changed.
What to Do If a Dental Injury Happens During Sports
Even with the right gear, accidents can happen. Stay calm and act quickly.
If an adult tooth gets knocked out, hold it by the crown, not the root. If it’s dirty, rinse it gently with water. Don’t scrub it or use soap. Try to reinsert it into the socket. If reinsertion isn’t possible, place it in cold milk or a tooth-saving solution. Call a dentist right away. Fast care increases the chance of saving the tooth.
If a baby tooth gets knocked out, don’t place it back in the socket. Call a dentist for advice.
For a chipped, cracked, or fractured tooth, contact Calgary Smiles promptly for guidance and care.
Conclusion: Help Protect Your Child’s Smile Before the Season Starts
A stray elbow, hockey stick, ball, or hard fall can do a lot of damage in a split second. A sports mouthguard helps absorb that impact while protecting the teeth, lips, cheeks, tongue, and jaw.
And dental injuries don’t always end when the game does. A broken adult tooth may need ongoing treatment, while a knocked-out tooth needs fast action.
A mouthguard isn’t a substitute for a helmet, face cage, good coaching, or safe play. It has one very specific job: protecting the mouth when the unexpected hit happens.
If your child is heading into sports season, Calgary Smiles can help you work out the right mouthguard protection for their teeth and bite. A quick conversation now can save their smile a much bigger problem later.
Book an appointment today.
Looking for more expert insights? Check out some of our other guides below:
- Back-to-School Dental Checkups: Start the School Year With a Healthy Smile
- A Parent’s Guide to Handling a Chipped or Knocked-Out Tooth After Hours
- What’s That Spot? A Parent’s Guide to Discoloration on Kids’ Teeth
- Dental Sealants: The Invisible Shield That Protects Your Child’s Teeth
- “But I’m Scared!”: How to Ease Your Child’s Dental Anxiety Before Their Visit
FAQs About Mouthguards for Kids in Calgary
What Age Should a Child Start Wearing a Sports Mouth Guard?
A child should wear one when they play a sport or take part in an activity that carries a risk of dental or facial injury. Age matters less than risk. Even younger children may need a mouthguard once they begin activities with contact, fast movement, hard equipment, or a higher chance of falling.
Are Store-Bought Mouthguards Good Enough for Kids?
They can work short-term, but they don’t fit as well as custom guards. A loose or bulky guard distracts kids and ends up in the bag. If you choose a boil-and-bite option, follow the fitting instructions closely and check that your child can breathe comfortably while wearing it.
Can My Child Wear a Mouthguard with Braces?
Yes. Kids with braces should ask their orthodontic provider before choosing or molding a mouthguard. A dental professional may help with the fit. Since teeth can move during orthodontic treatment, it is important to check that the guard still feels comfortable and provides enough coverage.
How Long Does a Kids’ Mouthguard Last?
Replace or reassess a mouthguard when it no longer fits, is damaged, or your child’s teeth or orthodontic treatment have changed. Signs it may be time for a replacement include tears, deep bite marks, rough edges, or a guard that no longer stays in place without constant biting.
Does My Child Need to Wear a Mouthguard During Practice?
Yes. A collision, fall, stick, elbow, or ball to the face can happen during practice just as easily as during a game. If a mouthguard is required or recommended for competition, make it part of your child’s regular gear for drills, scrimmages, and training sessions too.
Can One Mouthguard Work for More Than One Sport?
Often, yes. One well-fitting mouthguard may work for more than one activity, especially when the sports involve a similar level of contact or injury risk. Check the rules for your child’s league or team, since some sports have specific equipment requirements. If your child begins a higher-contact sport, confirm that their current mouthguard is suitable for that level of play.
