Does My Child Need a Mouthguard for Cricket or Football? Custom vs the One from the Sports Shop

By Dr Kisha Mehta, B.D.S., M.D.S. (Pedodontist), Kids Dental Studio, Ahmedabad. Medically reviewed by Dr Kisha Mehta

Your son has cricket trials at school next week. Your daughter has just joined a football academy. A coach or another parent has told you she needs a mouthguard, and the sports shop has one hanging near the cash counter.

So, do you need one? Yes. If your child plays cricket, football, skating, kabaddi or any game where a ball, a bat, an elbow or a fall can reach the face, a mouthguard is worth wearing. A custom-fitted one made by a dentist protects better than the shop version. It fits your child’s teeth exactly, it stays in place, and it is comfortable enough that your child keeps it in.

Mouth injuries are common in children’s sports, and many are the kind a mouthguard is designed to prevent. Below, our pediatric dentists at Kids Dental Studio explain how to choose, as a pediatric dentist at our pediatric dental clinic in Ahmedabad. If you’d like to see what we offer, you can read about sports mouthguard for kids in Ahmedabad.

Does my child really need a mouthguard for cricket or football?

If your child plays any sport with a real chance of a hit to the face, yes. A mouthguard cushions the blow, so teeth, lips, cheeks and tongue are less likely to be cut or broken. It also stops the upper and lower teeth from slamming together on impact.

Cricket surprises many parents. A hard ball can jump off the pitch or the edge of a bat straight into a child’s face. That applies to the batter, the wicketkeeper and the fielder going for a catch. Football adds collisions, headers and falls. Skating, cycling, kabaddi and even a school sports day race can end with a fall onto the mouth.

A mouthguard does not replace a helmet. The helmet protects the head, and the mouthguard protects the teeth and mouth. A child who bats or keeps wicket in a helmet should wear both.

What is wrong with the mouthguard from the sports shop?

sports mouthguard for kids in AhmedabadNothing, if the choice is that guard or no guard at all. But it protects less, and children often stop wearing it.

Shop guards come in two types. Ready-made ones are used straight from the packet. Boil-and-bite ones are softened in hot water, and your child bites into them at home to shape them. Three problems come up again and again:

  • Loose fit. A guard that shifts during play does less when the ball arrives. A ready-made guard barely matches any child’s teeth. A boil-and-bite guard is only as good as the home moulding.
  • Bulk. A thick guard can make a child gag or struggle to talk and breathe. Children then spit it out or chew it.
  • Poor moulding. Water that is too hot, or a bite that is slightly off, can leave a guard that never sits right.

A guard that stays in the kit bag protects nothing.

A custom guard is made from an impression of your child’s own teeth. It is one of the preventive pediatric dental treatments in Ahmedabad that can save a child from a broken tooth later.

When is a custom mouthguard worth it?

A custom guard is the better choice if your child:

  • plays a sport regularly or competes for the school or an academy
  • wears braces or has other dental work
  • has front teeth that stick out
  • keeps spitting out or chewing the shop guard
  • has already had a knock to a tooth

A shop guard can be a fair stopgap if your child is trying a new sport for one season. Even then, it is worth having us look at the fit.

Wobbly baby teeth change things too. A child’s mouth changes quickly between the ages of six and twelve, so there is no single right age or type. We would rather look at your child’s mouth than guess from a birthday.

How much does a custom mouthguard cost?

The cost depends on your child’s mouth and the type of guard, so we can’t give a fair figure without seeing your child. A shop guard costs less at the counter. But if it is replaced often, or your child won’t wear it, that saving disappears. Treating a broken front tooth usually costs far more in time, money and worry than a well-fitted guard. Call us, and we will tell you the cost after a quick check.

How often does a child’s mouthguard need replacing?

Children outgrow mouthguards. Teeth shift, baby teeth fall out and permanent teeth come in, so a guard that fit last year can be loose or tight today.

Our advice at Kids Dental Studio is simple. Bring the guard to every check-up so the fit can be checked. Have it re-checked when braces go on, when a front tooth falls out, or after a growth spurt. You can learn more about our team on the Kids Dental Studio homepage.

A few care habits make a guard last:

  • Rinse it in cool water after every use and brush it gently.
  • Keep it in a ventilated case.
  • Never leave it in a hot car or a sun-baked kit bag, which matters in an Ahmedabad summer.
  • Never wash it in hot water, because heat can warp it.

When should you call us?

Book a fitting before the season starts if your child plays regularly, wears braces, has front teeth that stick out, or has just joined a team or academy.

Call the same day if your child has taken a knock to the mouth and:

  • a tooth is chipped, cracked or looks different
  • a tooth feels loose or has moved out of place
  • the gum keeps bleeding
  • it hurts to bite, or the jaw doesn’t close properly
  • a tooth has been knocked out. Time matters here, so call us straight away, and read what to do if your child chipped or knocked out a tooth on your way.

Wait and watch if it is a small scuff on the lip with no pain, no wobble and no swelling. Clean it gently. If swelling, pain or a change in the tooth’s colour shows up in the next day or two, call our Navrangpura clinic.

What happens at the visit?

We look at your child’s teeth, bite and any braces or loose teeth. Then we take an impression of the teeth so the guard is made for your child’s mouth, not for an average mouth. When the guard is ready, we check that it sits snugly. We also check that your child can breathe, talk and bite down comfortably, and we show your child how to wear and clean it.

Nervous children get time to see and touch things first. We explain each step in simple words, so there are no surprises.

Conclusion

Your child does not need the most expensive sports gear. They need a mouthguard that fits and actually gets worn. For cricket, football, skating or kabaddi, a custom sports mouthguard for kids from a pediatric dentist is the safer choice. Booking before the season gets busy means the fit can be checked without a rush.

Call us on +91 72028 33900 to book a fitting at Kids Dental Studio, 404 Sigma Balaji Treasure (Complex), Navrang 6 Road, Opp. Navrang School, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380009. You can also contact us to book an appointment. If your child has already hurt a tooth, call today instead of waiting.

Best Pediatric Clinic in Ahmedabad

If your child has already taken a knock to the mouth, don’t wait to see if it settles. Call us now and we’ll tell you whether it needs to be seen today. For a routine fitting, you can contact us to book a convenient time at our Navrangpura clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age should a child start wearing a sports mouthguard?

A child should start as soon as they play any sport with a risk of falls, collisions or ball hits. There is no single age that fits every child. Because baby teeth are loosening and permanent teeth are arriving, a pediatric dentist can advise on the right timing and type.

Can my child wear a mouthguard with braces?

Yes, but a normal shop guard may press on the brackets or not fit at all. A dentist can make a guard that protects the teeth and the braces together. It should be re-checked as the teeth move.

Does my child need a mouthguard for gully cricket or only for matches?

A hard ball or a fall can reach the face in any game, whether it is a match or a casual evening in the society compound. We recommend wearing the guard wherever the risk of a hit is real, including practice sessions.

Can my child talk and drink water while wearing a mouthguard?

A well-fitted guard lets children breathe and speak fairly normally. Most children take it out for water breaks and put it back before play starts. A guard that makes talking or breathing hard is usually a poor fit and should be checked.

How do I clean my child’s mouthguard?

Rinse it in cool water after every use and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush. Dry it, then keep it in a ventilated case away from heat. Avoid hot water, because it can warp the guard.

This article is for information only and is not medical advice. A mouthguard reduces the risk of mouth injuries but cannot prevent every one. Your pediatric dentist can advise on what is right for your child.

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