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Port Dover Family Dentistry
Children’s Sports Mouthguards in Walsh
Hockey, ball or riding? Walsh parents can learn how custom kids’ mouthguards are fitted in Port Dover, how growth affects fit and when to replace one.
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Caring for patients from Walsh and the surrounding countryside at our Port Dover office
See every dental service for WalshProtect them while they play
A well-fitted guard lets kids focus on the game.
A fall, a stick, a ball or an elbow can chip or knock out a tooth in seconds. Mouthguards cushion those blows and help protect teeth, lips and cheeks. For children, a guard also needs to fit a mouth that is still changing, with baby teeth falling out and new teeth arriving every season or two.
Whether your Walsh child plays hockey, soccer, baseball or another sport through the year, a guard that fits is worth planning. At our Port Dover office, the team can take impressions or scans for a custom guard, check the fit and explain how often it may need replacing as your child grows.
Who needs one
Many activities carry more risk than parents expect.
Sports with contact or falls
Hockey, lacrosse, football and martial arts are obvious candidates, but basketball, soccer, skateboarding, biking and horseback riding also lead to dental injuries. If your child’s league requires a guard, it is worth getting one that fits properly rather than the cheapest option at the sports shop. Even in non-contact sports, an accidental fall can damage front teeth.
Kids with braces or new teeth
Children with braces, spacers or recently erupted adult teeth may need a guard designed with extra room or flexibility. Let the dentist know about any orthodontic appliances or planned treatment. Newly erupted permanent teeth have immature roots, which makes protecting them especially worthwhile while children are active and still learning to judge speed and contact.
Custom versus stock
Fit affects comfort, breathing and whether kids actually wear it.
Ready-made and boil-and-bite options
Stock guards come in set sizes and are often bulky. Boil-and-bite versions are softened in hot water and moulded at home. They offer some protection, but they may loosen, feel thick or make speaking and breathing harder during play, which leads many children to chew on them, pull them out between shifts or leave them in the bag altogether.
Custom-fitted guards
A custom guard is made from a model of your child’s teeth, so it can be thinner in places, stay in better and feel more comfortable. The dentist can discuss thickness and colour options suited to the sport and position. Comfort matters because a guard only protects when it is actually in the mouth at the moment of impact.
Fitting visit
Making a custom guard takes a short series of steps.
Impressions or scans
At the first visit, the team records the shape of your child’s teeth with impressions or a digital scan. The dentist checks for loose baby teeth, cavities or other issues that could affect fit or comfort. Let us know your child’s season dates so the guard can be planned with enough time before games and tryouts begin.
Trying it on and adjusting
When the guard is ready, your child tries it on so the dentist can check that it seats properly, does not press on the gums and allows comfortable breathing. Small adjustments may be made on the spot. Your child can practise speaking and drinking water with it in at home before wearing it to the first practice.
Care and replacement
A clean, well-fitting guard keeps doing its job.
Cleaning and storage
Rinse the guard after each use, clean it with a soft brush and cool water, and let it dry in a ventilated case. Keep it away from hot car dashboards and pets, both common causes of ruined guards. Ask children not to share guards or chew on them, since chewing thins the material and shortens its useful life.
Signs it no longer fits
Bring the guard to checkups so the dentist can look at wear and fit. Growth, lost baby teeth and new adult teeth often mean a child needs a new guard sooner than an adult would. If it feels tight, loose or cracked, book a check before the next big game rather than hoping it will hold up.
Planning your appointment
Planning a mouthguard fitting from Walsh
Call our Port Dover office to arrange a fitting appointment. Mention your child’s sport, the season start date and any braces or appliances so we can plan the visit and the timing properly.
If your child already has a guard, bring it along so the dentist can compare fit and discuss whether a custom version would help.
Port Dover Family Dentistry
697 Norfolk County Hwy 6, Unit 2, Port Dover, ON N0A 1N2519-583-2929Directions to our office (opens in a new tab)Office hours & contact detailsBefore you book
Mouthguards for young athletes
Have a question about your situation? Our team can help you plan a visit.
At what age should my child wear a mouthguard?
Once a child takes part in sports or activities where falls or contact are possible, a guard is worth considering. The dentist can discuss whether a custom guard suits their age and how often their baby teeth are changing.
How often will my child need a new guard?
Growing children often need replacements more frequently than adults, sometimes each season. Lost teeth, new adult teeth and wear all affect fit. Bring the guard to checkups so the dentist can advise when it is time to replace it.
Can kids with braces wear a mouthguard?
Yes, and protection is especially important with braces, since brackets can cut the lips during a hit. A guard needs to allow for the brackets and ongoing tooth movement. Tell the dentist about the braces so a suitable design can be recommended.
Will a guard make it hard to breathe or talk?
A properly fitted guard should allow comfortable breathing and reasonable speech, even during hard play. Bulky or poorly fitted guards cause more trouble. The dentist checks fit and can adjust it if your child finds it awkward or tiring.
What should we do if a tooth is injured during a game?
Call the office promptly and describe what happened. For a knocked-out adult tooth, time matters, so follow first aid steps and seek care quickly. Head injuries or any breathing problems need emergency medical help first.
Protection and injury care
Children’s Dentistry →Sports Guards →
Contact sports, riding and rec leagues carry dental injury risk. Walsh athletes can see how a custom guard is fitted in Port Dover and when to replace it.
Emergency Dental Care for Children →
Toothache, swelling or a knocked tooth? Walsh parents can learn first steps, when hospital care comes first and how to reach our Port Dover team.