August is a thrilling time for families in Edmonton as the anticipation of a new school year builds. Alongside shopping for notebooks and indoor shoes, many parents are busy registering their children for fall sports. Whether your child is hitting the ice for hockey, stepping onto the pitch for soccer, or joining the school football team, proper safety gear is essential.
While helmets and pads are always at the top of the sports equipment checklist, there is one piece of safety gear that often gets overlooked until the first game: a protective mouthguard. Investing in a high-quality sports guard this August at Bloom Dental Wellness is the absolute best way to ensure your young athlete stays safe, healthy, and focused all season long.
The True Risks of Unprotected Sports Play
Many parents associate dental injuries exclusively with high-contact sports like hockey or rugby. However, dental emergencies happen frequently in non-contact and limited-contact sports too. A stray basketball, an accidental elbow during a soccer match, or a fall on the school playground can cause immediate and painful damage.
Preventing Fractures and Tooth Loss
A heavy impact to the face can lead to chipped, fractured, or completely knocked-out teeth. These injuries are painful, emotionally distressing for a child, and often require extensive, lifelong dental restorations. A proper mouthguard acts as a shock absorber, spreading the force of a sudden impact across a wider area and dramatically reducing the risk of severe dental trauma.
Soft Tissue Protection
The teeth are not the only parts of the mouth at risk during a game. Without a mouthguard from Bloom Dental Wellness, a sudden blow can push the lips and cheeks against the sharp edges of the teeth, causing severe lacerations and bruising. If your child wears traditional braces, a sports guard is even more critical, as it provides a protective barrier that prevents the brackets and wires from cutting the inside of their mouth.
Over-the-Counter vs. Custom Dental Mouthguards
When looking for mouthguards, you will likely find inexpensive “boil-and-bite” options at local sporting goods stores. While these may seem convenient, they do not offer the same level of protection, comfort, or durability as a professionally crafted dental sports guard from Bloom Dental Wellness.
Store-bought mouthguards are typically bulky and loosely fitted. Because they do not conform precisely to your child’s unique bite, they require the wearer to constantly clench their teeth together to keep the guard in place. This makes it difficult for young athletes to breathe deeply, communicate clearly with teammates, and focus on the game.
Furthermore, because they are uncomfortable, children frequently chew on them or take them out entirely during play, leaving their smiles completely unprotected.
The Bloom Dental Wellness Approach to Sports Safety
At Bloom Dental Wellness in Keswick, we want to make the preparation for fall sports as smooth and comfortable as possible for your family. We leverage modern technology to provide superior protection without the stress.
Mess-Free Digital Scanning
In the past, getting a custom mouthguard meant biting down into a tray filled with cold, messy, and gag-inducing putty. We have completely eliminated that unpleasant experience. Our team uses advanced iTero digital scanning technology to capture a highly accurate 3D image of your child’s teeth in just a few minutes. It is clean, fast, and entirely comfortable.
Tailored Comfort for Better Performance
Because our custom mouthguards are fabricated from exact 3-dimensional models of your child’s mouth, they fit snugly and securely over the teeth. Your child can easily speak, breathe naturally, and drink water without ever having to remove the guard. When a piece of safety equipment fits perfectly, athletes are much more likely to wear it consistently.
Aligning with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide
We know that back-to-school season can place a heavy demand on your family budget. To help keep essential safety care accessible, our clinic strictly follows the current Alberta Dental Fee Guide. This ensures your family receives transparent, predictable pricing for all preventive and protective treatments.
Secure Your Child’s Custom Guard Before the Season Begins
Do not wait until the first whistle blows to think about sports safety. Booking an appointment in August gives our team plenty of time to scan, fabricate, and deliver a perfectly fitted mouthguard before school sports schedules dominate your calendar. Contact the team at Bloom Dental Wellness today to book a quick consultation for your young athlete.
FAQ
At what age should my child start wearing a sports mouthguard?
Any child participating in sports or recreational activities with a risk of falls or facial contact should wear a mouthguard. This includes children as young as six years old who are playing organized community sports, as protecting their developing jaw and emerging adult teeth is incredibly important.
How long does a custom mouthguard last?
For growing children and teenagers, a custom mouthguard generally needs to be replaced every season or school year. Because their mouths are constantly changing, new adult teeth are erupting, and the jaw is growing, a guard that fit perfectly last year may become too tight or ineffective this year.
How should my child clean and store their mouthguard?
Your child should rinse their mouthguard with cool water or an antibacterial mouthwash after every use. It should be cleaned gently using a toothbrush and mild soap, then stored in a perforated plastic case to dry completely. Avoid leaving the mouthguard in hot cars or direct sunlight, as high heat can warp the material and ruin the custom fit.
