Fall in Mount Laurel means packed schedules, cooler evenings, and the return of school sports. If your child plays soccer, field hockey, football, basketball, or any contact sport, there is one piece of equipment that often gets overlooked: the mouthguard. A quality sports mouthguard does far more than satisfy a league requirement. It is one of the simplest ways to protect your child’s teeth, jaw, and smile all season long.

At Friendly Smiles Center, Dr. Robert Chase and our team have been helping Mount Laurel families protect their smiles since 1993. Here is what every parent should know about sports mouthguards before the first whistle blows.

Why Mouthguards Matter More Than Most Parents Realize

Dental injuries are among the most common injuries in youth sports, and many of them are preventable. A properly fitted mouthguard cushions the teeth and soft tissues of the mouth during impact, which can make the difference between a minor bump and a broken tooth.

• – Prevents chipped, cracked, and knocked out teeth: Direct blows to the face can fracture teeth or knock them loose. A mouthguard absorbs and spreads out that force.
• – Protects lips, cheeks, and tongue: Soft tissue injuries from biting or impact are painful and slow to heal. A mouthguard creates a protective barrier.
• – Cushions the jaw: Some mouthguards can help reduce the force transferred to the jaw during a collision, which may lower the risk of jaw injury.
• – Keeps kids in the game: A dental injury can mean missed games, emergency visits, and lengthy treatment. Prevention is easier and usually far less expensive than repair.

Store Bought vs. Custom: What Is the Difference?

Walk into any sporting goods store and you will find two common options: stock mouthguards and boil and bite mouthguards. Both are better than nothing, but they come with real trade offs.

• – Stock mouthguards come preformed in a few sizes. They are inexpensive, but they tend to fit loosely, which makes breathing and talking harder. Kids often end up chewing on them or leaving them in their gym bag.
• – Boil and bite mouthguards soften in hot water so you can shape them at home. The fit is better than stock, but it is still approximate, and the material thins out where your child bites down.
• – Custom mouthguards are made from an impression or digital scan of your child’s actual teeth. They fit snugly, stay in place, and are comfortable enough that kids actually wear them without reminders.

The fit question matters more than it might seem. An athlete who cannot breathe or speak comfortably will pull the guard out at halftime and “forget” to put it back. A custom fit solves that problem at the source.

Which Sports Call for a Mouthguard?

Many parents assume mouthguards are only for football. In reality, dental injuries happen across a wide range of activities, including plenty of non-contact sports.

• – Contact sports: football, field hockey, wrestling, martial arts, ice hockey, lacrosse
• – Collision and ball sports: soccer, basketball, baseball, softball
• – Individual activities with fall risk: skateboarding, gymnastics, biking, rollerblading

If there is any chance of contact with a ball, an elbow, the ground, or another player, a mouthguard is a smart idea.

Caring for a Mouthguard Through the Season

A mouthguard works hard, and a little care keeps it effective from the first practice to the playoffs.

• – Rinse it with cool water before and after each use
• – Clean it regularly with a toothbrush and mild soap
• – Store it in a ventilated case, never a sealed bag or a hot car
• – Bring it to dental checkups so we can check the fit
• – Replace it if it shows tears, warping, or a loose fit, and after any significant impact

Growing kids may need a new guard each season as their teeth and jaws change. We can assess that quickly during a routine visit.

What to Expect at a Mouthguard Appointment

Getting a custom mouthguard at Friendly Smiles Center is simple and comfortable. We take an impression or scan of your child’s teeth, craft the guard to fit precisely, and have them try it in to confirm the fit. The whole process is gentle, quick, and easy to pair with a regular cleaning so you only make one trip.

Our custom sport guards are designed with young athletes in mind: durable, comfortable, and built for the sports your child actually plays. And because we are a family practice, we can outfit the whole team, from the youngest soccer player to the high school quarterback.

Give Your Young Athlete a Confident Season

A custom sports mouthguard is a small investment that protects a smile your child will have for life. Before the fall season gets into full swing, let us make sure your athlete is covered. Call Friendly Smiles Center at 856-359-4000 or schedule an appointment online today. We offer flexible scheduling, including early morning and evening times, so fitting in a visit between school and practice is easy.