It is very important to wear a mouth guard to protect that smile. Mouth guards, also called sports guards, refer to any devices worn over teeth to protect them from injury if the athlete is hit in the face or head. There are three catagories:
1.) Customized: you can have a custom mouth guard made by your dentist. These are the most comfortable, and also the most expensive.
2.) "Boil and Bite": this mouth guard is semi-customized. You purchase a preformed plastic shape and customize the fit by boiling the guard in water for a few minutes and then biting into the warm plastic.
3.) Standard: this mouth guard is preformed and cannot be altered to fit a specific mouth. It provides protection but can interefere with breathing or talking due to the inexact fit.
The most important fact is that your child does wear a protective mouth guard when playing sports. Inquire at your dental office if you have more questions or concerns.