Boil and Bite. A semi-custom fit can be made using a boil and bite model mouth guard. Hot water is used to soften the plastic and your child then bites into the guard, molding it to his or her teeth. A dentist makes the best fitting mouth guards in a dental office. Custom mouth guards are the best option if your child plays a number of sports each year or plays sports with continuous activity, like basketball or soccer.
Mouth guards help prevent injury to the mouth, teeth, lips, cheeks and tongue.
They also cushion blows that might cause concussions or jaw fractures. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a sports mouth guard for all youth competition, regardless of age. Some athletic associations are getting the message. In the fall of 1999, for instance, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, the governing body in the state for high school athletics, made mouth guards mandatory for junior varsity and varsity soccer players for the first time. Mouth guards may soon become mandatory in other sports as well.