Gearing Up for the School Year and the Sports Season
As summer wraps up and backpacks are packed, student athletes across San Antonio are hitting the fields, courts, and tracks. But amid the excitement of new sports seasons, one critical piece of gear is often forgotten: the mouthguard.
At Alamo City Orthodontics, we believe a healthy, confident smile is a lifelong asset—and protecting that smile during sports is just as important as brushing and flossing. As your child heads back to school and into the game, here’s why a custom mouthguard should be part of their everyday sports gear.
The Real Risk: Why Sports Are a Leading Cause of Dental Injuries
Youth sports are fantastic for building character, teamwork, and fitness—but they also come with a risk of orofacial injuries. According to the American Dental Association, student athletes are 60 times more likely to suffer dental injuries if they’re not wearing a mouthguard.
Common sports-related injuries include:
- Chipped or broken teeth
- Knocked-out teeth
- Jaw fractures
- Lip and cheek lacerations
The good news? Most of these injuries are preventable with a properly fitted mouthguard.
Which School Sports Require Mouthguards?
While most people associate mouthguards with football, they’re essential for many contact and non-contact sports. Here are just a few that typically require or strongly recommend them:
🏈 Football
Mouthguards are mandatory in organized football. The contact level makes it one of the most high-risk sports for dental trauma.
🏀 Basketball
A lot of unintentional contact happens under the net—mouthguards help protect against elbows and hard falls.
⚽ Soccer
Between headers, accidental kicks, and player collisions, a custom mouthguard is a must-have.
🥍 Lacrosse & Field Hockey
Both high-contact sports where face and mouth protection is often required.
🥊 Wrestling & Martial Arts
Close contact, high intensity, and body-to-body action make mouthguards critical.
🏐 Volleyball & Baseball
These sports may seem low-contact, but fast-moving balls and diving plays can still cause facial injuries.
Why Choose a Custom Mouthguard?
While over-the-counter “boil and bite” guards are easy to grab from a sports store, they often provide inadequate protection and poor fit, which can lead to:
- Difficulty breathing or speaking
- Improper alignment
- Less shock absorption
At Alamo City Orthodontics, we provide orthodontic mouthguards designed for kids with braces and custom-fit options that mold perfectly to your child’s teeth. These offer superior comfort, better durability, and full-coverage protection, even during aggressive contact.
If your child wears braces, protecting those brackets and wires is just as important as protecting their teeth.
Explore our custom-fit orthodontic mouthguard solutions to get started.
Mouthguards for Orthodontic Patients: Special Considerations
Orthodontic patients are especially vulnerable to injuries:
- Braces can cut soft tissues during impact
- Force to the mouth may damage appliances or delay treatment
- Replacing broken brackets or wires can be time-consuming and costly
Custom mouthguards offer additional padding and are designed to fit around the brackets, ensuring both comfort and protection.
Tips for Back-to-School Mouthguard Readiness
- Get fitted before the season starts. Don’t wait until the first game to realize you need one.
- Clean it regularly. Bacteria love mouthguards—rinse and brush it like you would your teeth.
- Replace as needed. A mouthguard that’s cracked or too tight won’t protect as well.
- Store it properly. Use a ventilated container to keep it clean and dry.
Why It Matters to Start the School Year Right
A dental injury can mean missed school, costly dental procedures, and months of recovery. By investing in a properly fitted mouthguard, you’re giving your child a strong start to both their academic and athletic year.
Whether your child is a weekend soccer warrior or a full-time student athlete, their smile deserves protection.
