10 Tips to Help Protect Your Child's Teeth During Sports

A misfired baseball, an elbow during a rebound or a hockey puck sailing off-target — if your child plays sports, you know how quickly a game can turn into a dental emergency. Up to 39% of dental injuries in children are sports-related, making orofacial trauma one of the leading types of injury in youth sports.¹

But it’s not just about knocked-out teeth. Sports can also lead to injured tooth roots, lacerated lips and gums, broken jaws, chipped or fractured teeth or damage to braces or other dental appliances. These injuries can be painful and costly and have lasting effects on your child’s oral health and development that follow them well into adulthood, so prevention is key.²

Below are some winning strategies to help protect your child’s teeth on and off the field.

1. Wear a Mouthguard

Mouthguards are one of the most effective ways to help prevent sports-related dental injuries. Specially designed to cushion the upper teeth, mouthguards form a protective barrier that absorbs and distributes impact shock and helps to protect teeth, gums and soft tissues from damage.²

Research has shown that children who don’t wear a mouthguard are 60 times more likely to suffer a sports-related mouth injury.³ Yet the American Association of Orthodontists found that 67% of surveyed parents said their children do not wear a mouthguard during organized sports.²

Without protection, your young athlete might have a tooth knocked out, suffer a cracked tooth that requires a root canal or experience nerve damage, infection, tooth discoloration, misalignment or other problems that could follow them into adulthood.

Mouthguards are usually required to participate in high-velocity, high-collision sports, such as football, hockey, lacrosse and boxing.² However, parents should consider mouthguards for non- or limited-contact sports as well, such as gymnastics, ice skating, skateboarding, basketball or baseball, as any athlete can experience a mouth injury.⁴

Children can start wearing a mouthguard at any age, as soon as they begin participating in sports.⁴

Different types of mouthguards

There are three types of mouthguards: boil-and-bite, custom-made and stock.⁵

• Boil and bite. Available at sporting goods stores, drugstores or online, these mouthguards are softened (boiled) and then inserted into your child's mouth where they conform to their bite.⁵
• Custom-made. These mouthguards are created by your dentist or orthodontist using a mold of your child's teeth.¹ They are typically more expensive than other types.⁵ However, they offer the highest level of protection without impairing your athlete’s function.⁶
• Stock. These are pre-molded mouthguards that come in a variety of sizes and are generally available at any sporting goods store. Though inexpensive, this option can be ill-fitting and bulky, making breathing and talking difficult.⁵

Additionally, because custom mouthguards are more comfortable to wear, kids may be more likely to use them. With proper care, a custom mouthguard will last significantly longer than a store-bought option.⁴

If your child wears braces, a mouthguard made specifically for orthodontia is especially important, as it will provide a barrier to protect the inside of the lips and cheeks in the event of a high-velocity strike to the face. It will also protect the orthodontic hardware, wires or other appliances affixed to your child's teeth.⁵

Your orthodontist or dentist can recommend the type of mouthguard that will best protect your child and their braces based on their specific needs.

2. Maintain and Replace Mouthguards

It's vital that mouthguards are properly cared for and maintained, including replacing them when they are outgrown or damaged to maintain their effectiveness.⁷

Remind your kids to rinse their mouthguard with water or mouthwash after each use, and to clean it often with mild soap and a soft toothbrush. Mouthguards should be stored in a ventilated case to prevent bacterial growth and kept away from heat that could warp the material.⁷

Check for signs of wear, and replace mouthguards that have been damaged as their ability to protect your child’s teeth may be compromised. Mouthguards should typically be replaced each season, more frequently for children whose mouths may have changed due to growth or natural tooth loss.⁷

3. Choose the Right Headgear

While helmets improve overall safety, those equipped with a protective face shield or mask offer even greater protection.⁸ These features guard your child’s head and neck and help absorb the force from falls, collisions or flying objects that could otherwise lead to injuries.

A well-fitting helmet can also reduce the likelihood of a child biting down with extreme force during impact, hard enough to chip their teeth, even if they're wearing a mouthguard.⁸ A sport-appropriate helmet with facial protection adds an important layer of defense, especially in high-speed or high-contact activities.

4. Find a Role Model

Many pro athletes, from LeBron James to Steph Curry, wear mouthguards or other protective face gear that demonstrates they understand the importance of protecting their teeth and jaws during high-impact competition. Kids can be motivated to wear their mouthguards more often when they see their favorite pros as role models who consistently wear protective gear, rather than viewing it as a hassle or inconvenience.⁶

Show your child videos or photos of top athletes with their gear on, and remind them that even the best in the game take steps to protect their smile. Try letting them choose a fun color or style of mouthguard to match their favorite team for added motivation.

5. Hydrate With Water

Staying hydrated is a priority during high-intensity sports, but dentists recommend that kids reach for water instead of sugary sports drinks whenever possible.⁹

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), the sugars in many sports drinks feed the natural bacteria in the mouth, leading to the production of acid that can erode tooth enamel. Over time, this raises the chance of cavities and gum disease.⁹

If your child does need a sports drink, look for options that are low in sugar or unsweetened and contain potassium and electrolytes to support both hydration and muscle recovery.

6. Promote Safe Play

Safe, respectful play is just as important for preventing injuries as wearing protective gear. When kids are familiar with the rules of their sport, they’re less likely to make aggressive moves that could lead to collisions, falls or accidental blows to the face.⁸

Encourage good sportsmanship and discourage overly aggressive or unsportsmanlike conduct to help create a safer playing environment for everyone. Not only does this help reduce the incidence of injuries, but it also teaches kids to value safety, respect and self-control as part of how they compete.⁸

7. Practice Good Dental Hygiene

Strong daily dental habits are the foundation for healthy teeth and gums. Teeth that have been weakened with fillings or compromised by decay are more likely to be damaged by a sports injury than healthy teeth.⁹

At a minimum, brush twice per day for at least two minutes each time, and floss once a day, followed by an ADA-approved mouth rinse.⁹

8. Get Regular Dental Checkups

Regular dental checkups every six months are important for catching and addressing any issues early, before they become serious problems.¹⁰ During these visits, ask your dentist to inspect your child’s mouthguard for signs of wear and confirm it still fits properly. As children and teens grow, their mouths change, and they may need to replace their mouthguards more often to maintain their integrity.⁵

9. Know What to Do in an Emergency

If your child loses a permanent tooth while playing sports, stay calm. Hold the tooth by the crown (the chewing surface, not the root) and rinse it off with clean water.¹¹

You can attempt to gently insert the tooth back in the socket and have your child bite down gently on gauze or other clean cloth to hold it in place. Reimplantation within 15 minutes of the injury provides the best chance of saving the tooth.¹¹

If reimplantation isn’t possible, it’s important to keep the tooth moist.⁸ Store it in a small container of milk or your child’s saliva and seek emergency dental care.⁸ Do not try to reimplant a primary (baby) tooth, as it could affect the health of the permanent tooth growing behind it.¹¹

Use a cold compress on your child's mouth to control any bleeding or swelling.¹¹ After any head injury, watch for signs of concussion, even if the injury seems minor. If your athlete is unconscious, do not attempt to reimplant an avulsed (knocked out) tooth as a precaution against choking or aspirating.

Contact your dentist immediately for emergency follow-up care.¹¹

10. Be an Advocate

Parents can play a key role in protecting their athletes from orofacial injuries by advocating for the use of protective gear and setting a strong example.

The National Federation of State High School Associations requires mouthguards for sports like football, ice hockey, lacrosse and field hockey and for wrestlers with braces. Many other sports, however, still lack mandatory protections.¹²

Wider adoption starts with parents and coaches who prioritize safety and consistently support the use of gear like mouthguards and face shields. The earlier your young athlete gets used to wearing this protective equipment, the more natural it becomes.¹²

Protecting your child’s mouth is a must, whether they’re on the soccer field, in a gymnastics class or biking around the neighborhood. With the right gear, habits and preventive care, you can help ensure their smile stays strong on and off the field.

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Author Bio

Anne-Marie Kennedy is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience covering health and wellness, personal finance and real estate/investing.