Protecting Your Child’s Smile During Every Game and Practice
Sports are an incredible way for children to build confidence, teamwork skills, and physical fitness. But with contact sports and high-energy activities comes the very real risk of dental injuries. A single blow to the face can result in chipped, cracked, or completely knocked-out teeth—injuries that are painful, expensive, and potentially permanent. That’s why custom mouthguards are one of the smartest investments you can make in your young athlete’s oral health.
At Dental Care Group Kids, we specialize in creating comfortable, protective mouthguards that actually stay in place during play. Unlike store-bought options that shift around or make breathing difficult, our custom-fitted guards are designed specifically for your child’s mouth, giving them the protection they need without interfering with their performance. Whether your child wears braces or not, we can create the perfect mouthguard for their needs.
Ready to protect your child’s smile? Call our Aventura dental office at (305) 935-1613 or our Pembroke Pines dental office at (954) 430-2300 to schedule a mouthguard fitting. We proudly serve families in Aventura, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, and North Miami Beach.
Why Choose Dental Care Group Kids for Mouthguards
Our pediatric dentists have over 25 years of experience fitting mouthguards for young athletes across South Florida. Here’s what sets us apart:
- Perfect fit every time: We take precise impressions to create guards that stay in place without constant adjustment
- Braces-friendly options: Special designs that protect both teeth and orthodontic hardware
- Comfortable materials: Kids actually want to wear them because they don’t trigger gagging or breathing problems
- Quick turnaround: Most custom guards are ready within one to two weeks
- Free fit checks: Bring the guard to any checkup, and we’ll make sure it still fits properly as your child grows
What Is a Mouthguard?
A mouthguard is a protective dental appliance worn over the teeth during sports and physical activities to prevent injuries to the teeth, lips, tongue, and jaw. Custom mouthguards are made from durable, tear-resistant materials that absorb and distribute impact forces. They create a cushioning barrier between the upper and lower teeth while protecting soft tissues from cuts and lacerations. Properly fitted mouthguards can significantly reduce the risk of broken teeth, jaw fractures, and concussions during contact sports.
Types of Mouthguards
Your child has several mouthguard options, but they’re not all created equal. Here’s what you need to know about the three main types:
- Pre-made mouthguards: Ready-to-wear guards found at sporting goods stores; the least expensive, but offer minimal protection and a poor fit that makes breathing and speaking difficult
- Boil-and-bite guards: Semi-custom options you heat and mold at home; better than pre-made, but still prone to shifting during play and may not fully protect all teeth
- Custom-made professional guards: Created from impressions of your child’s teeth by our dentists; the highest level of protection, the most comfortable fit, and the best retention during activities
Benefits of Mouthguards
Investing in a quality mouthguard offers protection that goes far beyond just the teeth. Here’s why every young athlete needs one:
- Prevents tooth loss and fractures: Absorbs impact that would otherwise crack or completely knock out teeth, saving thousands in emergency dental work
- Protects orthodontic investments: Shields braces from damage and prevents brackets from cutting into lips and cheeks during contact
- Reduces concussion risk: Cushions blows to the jaw that can transmit force to the brain, potentially lowering concussion severity
- Avoids soft tissue injuries: Creates a barrier that prevents teeth from cutting into lips, tongue, and cheek tissue during impact
- Maintains proper jaw alignment: Prevents jaw displacement and fractures by absorbing and distributing forces across the entire dental arch
- Improves athletic confidence: Kids play harder and more fearlessly when they know their smile is protected
- Cost-effective prevention: A custom guard costs a fraction of what you’d pay for emergency dental treatment or tooth replacement
- Comfortable enough for full games: Properly fitted guards don’t interfere with breathing, speaking, or drinking water during play
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Nearly every young athlete can benefit from wearing a mouthguard. Your child should wear one if they participate in:
Contact sports – Football, hockey, basketball, soccer, rugby, lacrosse, wrestling, martial arts, and boxing- High-impact activities – Skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, and mountain biking
- Activities with falling risk – Gymnastics, cheerleading, trampolining, and parkour
- Racquet sports – Tennis, racquetball, and squash, where balls or racquets can strike the face
- Any sport while wearing braces – Orthodontic hardware significantly increases injury risk and severity
- Sports with equipment – Baseball, softball, and field hockey, where bats, balls, and sticks pose hazards
- Water sports – Water polo, diving, and wakeboarding, where collisions and falls are common
The Mouthguard Process – Step by Step
Getting a custom mouthguard is quick and completely painless. Here’s what to expect:
1. Initial Consultation and Assessment
We examine your child’s teeth, bite, and any orthodontic appliances. If braces are present, we plan for a design that accommodates brackets and wires while providing maximum protection.
2. Precise Impression Taking
We take detailed impressions of your child’s upper teeth (and sometimes lower teeth for certain sports). This quick process uses safe, comfortable impression material that captures every tooth and gum contour.
3. Custom Design and Fabrication
Our dental lab creates the mouthguard from high-quality, medical-grade materials. For braces wearers, we build in extra space to accommodate tooth movement and bracket placement.
4. Fitting and Adjustment
Your child tries on the completed guard. We check the fit, comfort, bite alignment, and breathing ease. Minor adjustments are made on the spot to ensure perfect retention and protection.
5. Care Instructions and Follow-Up
We demonstrate proper insertion, removal, and cleaning techniques. We also schedule follow-up checks to ensure the guard still fits properly as your child’s mouth grows and teeth shift.
How to Care for Your Mouthguard
Similar to a retainer, braces, or any other special dental appliance, it’s important to take care of your child’s mouthguard by storing it properly and keeping it clean, as well as knowing when to replace an old mouthguard with a new one. Here are a few simple ways to keep your child’s mouthguard clean and working correctly:
- Gently scrub the mouthguard after each use with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Store the mouthguard in a protective case.
- Do not leave the mouthguard in the sun or in hot water, as it may melt or become deformed.
- Replace the mouthguard at the beginning of every new sports season. You should also replace your child’s mouthguard if you notice it has become worn and no longer fits properly.
- Do not wear a retainer with a mouthguard. If your child wears braces, your dentist will help design a mouthguard to protect his teeth and his braces.
- Do not chew on or cut pieces off of your mouthguard. Mouthguards come in different shapes and sizes, so ask your dentist which is best for your child.
- Bring the mouthguard to each dental checkup, and our dentist can check to make sure it’s still in good shape!
Our goal is to help minimize your child’s chances of a sports-related injury to his smile. Be sure to ask our dentist about mouthguards at your next dental checkup.
Keep your child’s mouthguard in top condition! Call (305) 935-1613 in Aventura or (954) 430-2300 in Pembroke Pines to schedule a fit check or order a replacement.
Mouthguard Costs
Custom mouthguards are an affordable investment in your child’s dental health. Most families find them far less expensive than treating a sports-related dental injury.
Typical price range: Custom mouthguards generally cost between $150 and $400, depending on design complexity and materials used- Braces considerations: Guards for orthodontic patients may cost slightly more due to special design requirements
- Insurance coverage: Many dental insurance plans cover part or all of the cost; we’ll verify your benefits before treatment
- Payment plans available: We offer flexible financing options through CareCredit and accept all major credit cards
- Compare to injury costs: Emergency dental treatment for a knocked-out tooth can easily exceed $3,000 to $5,000
Important Considerations & Alternatives
Proper Fit Is Everything
A mouthguard only works if your child actually wears it. Custom-fitted guards are far more likely to be worn consistently because they’re comfortable, stay in place, and don’t interfere with breathing or communication. Store-bought guards often sit in gym bags unused because kids find them bulky and uncomfortable.
Growing children may need replacement guards more frequently than adults. As teeth shift, jaws grow, and baby teeth are lost, the fit changes. Bring the guard to every six-month checkup so we can assess whether it still provides proper protection.
Possible Mouthguard Problems
- Initial discomfort: New guards may feel bulky for the first few wearings; this typically resolves within a week
- Excessive gagging: Rare with properly fitted custom guards; if it occurs, we can trim and adjust for better tolerance
- Speech changes: Slight temporary difficulty with certain sounds; improves quickly with regular wear
