The cleats are in the trunk, the registration form is signed, and the team schedule is stuck to the fridge. Before the first practice, there is one small piece of gear that tends to get forgotten until a coach mentions it: the mouthguard. If you have wondered whether your child really needs one, especially for a sport where it is optional, you are in good company.
The short answer is yes for most kids who play anything with contact, speed, flying balls or a real chance of a fall. A mouthguard costs very little compared with repairing a broken front tooth, and it protects more of the mouth than most parents realize. Below, we walk through which sports call for one, the types available, how to get a good fit, and how to convince a reluctant kid to keep it in.
Why Kids’ Mouths Take So Many Hits in Sports
Children play with enthusiasm, and that enthusiasm does not always come with perfect body control. Kids collide with teammates, trip over their own feet, take a stray elbow while fighting for a rebound, or catch a ball in the face before their hands can react. The mouth sits right at the front of all that action, and the upper front teeth stick out just enough to take the first impact.
Growing bodies add another layer. A child’s permanent teeth come in over several years, and newly erupted teeth have roots that are still developing. A hard knock to a young tooth can affect how it continues to mature, which is one reason dentists take sports injuries in kids seriously even when the tooth looks fine from the outside.
Then there is the soft tissue. Lips, cheeks and tongue get pinched between teeth during a fall or a hit. A cut lip can bleed a lot and frighten everyone on the sideline, even when it heals well. A mouthguard puts a cushion between the teeth and those tissues, so a bump that might have caused a nasty cut often ends with nothing more than a startled kid.
Which Sports Call for a Mouthguard
Some sports make the decision for you. Football, ice hockey, lacrosse and boxing programs commonly require mouthguards, and officials in many youth leagues check for them. If your child plays one of these, read the league handbook early so you are not shopping the night before the first game.
The bigger question is the long list of sports where a mouthguard is optional. Basketball is a good example: there is constant contact under the basket, and elbows travel at exactly the height of a shorter player’s face. Soccer brings head-to-head collisions and hard falls. Baseball and softball involve hard balls, fast pitches and sliding. Field hockey, rugby, wrestling, martial arts, volleyball (think dives and scrambles at the net) and even gymnastics can all lead to a mouth injury.
Individual activities count too. Skateboarding, scooter riding, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding and trampoline parks all involve speed and falls. A good rule of thumb for parents: if your child wears a helmet or other protective gear for an activity, or if a fall onto a hard surface is likely, a mouthguard belongs in the bag.
What a Mouthguard Actually Protects
Most people picture a mouthguard keeping front teeth from chipping, and that is a big part of the job. A guard spreads the force of a blow across many teeth at once, which lowers the chance of a crack, a chip, or a tooth being pushed out of position or knocked out completely.
It also shields the lips, cheeks and tongue, as mentioned above, and it helps when a blow from below snaps the jaw shut. With a guard in place, the upper and lower teeth close against a cushion, which reduces the chance of them clashing together hard enough to break.
One point worth clearing up: you may hear that mouthguards prevent concussions. The research on that question is mixed, so think of a mouthguard as protection for the teeth, mouth and jaw. Head protection is the job of helmets, good coaching on safe technique, and rules that limit dangerous contact.
The Three Main Types of Mouthguards
Walk into any sporting goods store and you will see a wall of options. They fall into three basic groups, and each has its place.
Stock mouthguards
These come preformed and ready to wear straight out of the package. They are the least expensive option and easy to find. The downside is fit: because they are not shaped to your child’s teeth, they tend to feel bulky, and kids often have to clench to hold them in place. That makes talking and breathing harder, and a guard that is uncomfortable is a guard that ends up in a pocket.
Stock guards can work as a backup on the day the regular one is left at home, but most dentists would steer you toward something better fitted as the main guard for a season.
Boil-and-bite mouthguards
This is the type most families use. You soften the guard in hot water, let it cool slightly, then have your child bite into it so the material molds around the teeth. Follow the package directions closely, since overheating can thin the material and a weak bite can leave the guard loose.
A well-fitted boil-and-bite guard is a big improvement over a stock guard, and many can be remolded if the first try does not go well. For kids whose teeth are changing quickly, though, the fit can loosen as baby teeth fall out and new ones come in, so expect to replace them more often.
Custom-fitted mouthguards
A dentist makes a custom guard from an impression or scan of your child’s teeth. Because it matches the exact shape of their mouth, it tends to stay in place without clenching, feel thinner, and make talking and breathing easier. Plenty of young athletes who complain about every store-bought guard find they can keep a custom one in for a whole game.
Custom guards cost more and involve a short wait while the guard is made, so plan ahead of the season. For kids in high-contact sports, kids with braces, or kids who simply will not tolerate a bulky guard, many parents find the comfort is worth it. A family heading into a club soccer season in northwest Austin, for example, might ask a dentist serving River Place and Steiner Ranch about a fitting, since that office lists custom-fit mouth guards for protection on the field among its services.
Braces, Loose Teeth and Other Growing Pains
Kids with braces need a mouthguard as much as anyone, and arguably more. Brackets and wires can cut the inside of the lips and cheeks during a hit. Some guards are designed specifically for braces, with extra room for the hardware. Ask your child’s orthodontist which style they prefer before buying, since a guard molded tightly around brackets can interfere with how the teeth are being moved.
Younger kids in the mixed-teeth stage, when baby teeth and permanent teeth share the mouth, present a fitting challenge because the shape of the mouth keeps changing. Check the fit at the start of each season and anytime your child loses a tooth. If the guard rocks, falls out when they open their mouth, or leaves gaps, it is time for a new one.
Kids who wear clear aligners should check with their orthodontist or dentist too. Many providers ask that aligners come out for contact sports, with a proper sports guard worn in their place, so follow the instructions your own provider gives.
How to Tell If a Mouthguard Fits Properly
A good fit is what makes a mouthguard both protective and wearable. When your child bites down gently, the guard should cover all the upper teeth, usually back to the last molars that have come in, and stay put without any clenching.
Run through a quick check at home:
- It stays in place when your child opens their mouth slightly.
- They can speak in short phrases and breathe easily through the mouth.
- It does not trigger gagging. If it does, the back edge may need trimming according to the package instructions.
- The edges do not dig into the gums or cheeks.
- It covers the front teeth fully, with no thin spots left over from molding.
If the guard fails a couple of these checks, try remolding it (for boil-and-bite types) or switch to a different style. A guard that fits poorly gives less protection, and kids will find every reason to take it out.
Getting Kids to Actually Wear It
Buying the mouthguard is the easy part. Getting a ten-year-old to wear it for an entire practice can be another story. Comfort solves most of the problem, so start with fit. After that, a few habits help a lot.
Let your child choose the color or design. Many guards come in bright colors or fun patterns, and kids are more likely to wear something they picked themselves. Have them practice wearing it at home for short stretches, like during a favorite show, so it feels normal before game day. Then build it into the routine: the guard goes in when the cleats go on.
Coaches and teammates matter here too. If the older kids on the team wear guards, younger players tend to follow. You can also ask the coach to treat mouthguards like shin guards, as a standard part of the uniform. And if you play a pickup game or a rec league sport yourself, wearing your own guard sends a clear message.
Cleaning, Storage and Replacement
A mouthguard spends a lot of time in a warm, damp mouth and then in a dark gym bag, which is a recipe for germs and odor. Rinse it with cool water after each use and brush it gently with a toothbrush and mild soap. Let it air dry before putting it in a ventilated case. Skip hot water, which can warp the shape, and keep it out of hot cars.
Bring the guard along to your child’s regular dental checkups so the dentist can look at the fit and condition. Replace it when you see holes, tears, chewed edges or a loose fit. Chewing on the guard between plays is a very common habit, and it wears the material down faster than you might expect.
For growing kids, a new guard each season is a sensible starting point, and sooner if their teeth are changing. Write your child’s name on the case, and consider keeping a spare in the car for the days the original gets left on the bench.
What to Do If a Tooth Gets Chipped or Knocked Out
Even with good protection, accidents happen. Knowing what to do in the first few minutes can make a real difference, so it is worth reading this part before the season starts.
If a permanent tooth is knocked out, pick it up by the crown (the part that shows when your child smiles) and avoid touching the root. If it is dirty, rinse it briefly with milk or water without scrubbing. Try to gently place it back in the socket and have your child bite on clean gauze or a cloth to hold it there. If that is not possible, keep the tooth in a small container of milk and get to a dentist right away. Time matters a great deal with a knocked-out tooth.
Baby teeth are handled differently. A knocked-out baby tooth is generally left out, because pushing it back in can harm the permanent tooth developing underneath. Call your dentist anyway so they can check for other injuries. For chips and cracks, rinse the mouth with warm water, hold a cold compress against the outside of the face to ease swelling, and save any tooth pieces you can find. Then call your dentist the same day.
Knowing ahead of time which local office handles urgent visits saves a scramble on a stressful day. Families around North Austin, for instance, can note that Myers Dental of Austin lists emergency dentistry among its services. Saving a number like that in your phone before the first game takes a minute and spares you a frantic search from the parking lot.
A Preseason Checklist for Parents
A few weeks before the first practice, run through this quick list:
- Read the league rules for mouthguard requirements, including any rules about guard color or style.
- Try on last season’s guard. If it is loose, worn or chewed, replace it.
- Decide between boil-and-bite and custom, and give yourself time if you choose custom.
- Pack a clean, ventilated case and a spare guard.
- Save your dentist’s number in your phone in case of an emergency.
- Book a checkup if your child is due for one.
That last item is easy to overlook. A preseason dental visit lets the dentist spot cavities or loose teeth before the busy months begin, check how a guard fits, and talk through options if your child has braces or is losing baby teeth. It slots in easily alongside the routine cleanings and sealants that come with dental care for the whole family, so you can often book siblings back to back and get everyone ready at once.
Making the Mouthguard Part of the Uniform
So, do kids need mouthguards for sports? For any activity with contact, falls or fast-moving balls, the answer is yes. A well-fitted guard protects teeth, lips, cheeks and jaws, costs far less than repairing a damaged smile, and becomes second nature once it is part of the routine.
Pick a type that suits your child’s mouth and sport, check the fit every season, keep it clean, and know what to do if something goes wrong. With that sorted, you can get back to the fun part: cheering from the sidelines.
