Summer in Germantown means baseball diamonds, soccer fields, basketball courts, and skate parks buzzing with activity. If your child is suiting up for summer sports, you’ve probably thought about helmets, shin guards, and cleats — but have you thought about their teeth?
At Children’s Dentistry of Germantown, we see a significant uptick in sports-related dental injuries every summer. The good news? Most of them are completely preventable. Here’s everything you need to know to keep your young athlete’s smile safe this season.
Why Dental Injuries Are So Common in Youth Sports
Dental injuries are actually among the most common sports injuries in children. Studies show that athletes who don’t wear mouth guards are 60 times more likely to suffer dental injuries than those who do. Yet many parents — and even many coaches — don’t think about mouth protection until after an injury happens.
The most common sports-related dental injuries we see include:
- Knocked-out teeth
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Injuries to the lips, tongue, and cheeks
- Jaw fractures
- Root damage from impact
Any of these can be painful, expensive to treat, and in some cases permanent. A knocked-out permanent tooth that isn’t treated within 30 minutes may be lost forever.
Which Sports Put Your Child’s Teeth at Risk?
You might think only contact sports like football and hockey are a concern — but the reality is that many summer sports carry dental injury risk:
High risk:
- Football, basketball, and soccer
- Baseball and softball (especially batters and fielders)
- Lacrosse and field hockey
- Martial arts and wrestling
- Skateboarding and BMX
Moderate risk:
- Gymnastics
- Volleyball
- Cycling
- Swimming (pool edges and flip turns)
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends mouth guards for all of these sports — not just the obvious contact ones.
Store-Bought vs. Custom Mouth Guards — What’s the Difference?
Walk into any sporting goods store and you’ll find boil-and-bite mouth guards for a few dollars. They seem convenient, but here’s the truth: they offer minimal protection and most kids end up spitting them out mid-game because they’re uncomfortable.
A custom-fitted mouth guard from Children’s Dentistry of Germantown is a completely different experience:
Custom mouth guards:
- Are fabricated from an exact impression of your child’s teeth
- Fit precisely — no gagging, no shifting, no spitting out
- Allow normal breathing and speaking
- Absorb and distribute impact force far more effectively
- Last significantly longer than store-bought options
- Are especially important for children with braces
The process is simple:
- We take a quick impression of your child’s teeth at our Germantown office
- The mouth guard is custom-made in about a week
- Your child picks it up at a short follow-up visit
Many families are surprised at how affordable custom mouth guards are — especially compared to the cost of treating a dental injury.
What to Do If Your Child Has a Sports Dental Emergency
Even with a mouth guard, accidents happen. Here’s what to do if your child gets hurt during a game this summer:
Knocked-out tooth:
- Pick up the tooth by the crown — never touch the root
- Rinse gently with milk or clean water
- Store in milk or have your child hold it in their cheek
- Call us immediately at (301) 540-5757 — time is critical
- Get to our office as fast as possible
Chipped or cracked tooth:
- Rinse with warm water
- Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling
- Save any tooth fragments
- Call us for a same-day appointment
Cut lips or cheeks:
- Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze
- Use a cold compress for swelling
- If bleeding doesn’t stop after 20 minutes, go to the ER
Summer Sports Dental Tips for Parents
Before the season starts:
- Schedule a pre-season dental checkup at our Germantown office — we’ll identify any loose fillings, weak teeth, or other issues that could become problems during play
- Get a custom mouth guard fitted before the first game
- Make sure your child’s coach knows basic dental emergency first aid
During the season:
- Remind your child to always wear their mouth guard during practice AND games — most dental injuries happen during practice when kids let their guard down
- Keep our number saved: (301) 540-5757
- Pack a small dental emergency kit in your sports bag — gauze, a small container, and saline solution
After the season:
- Bring your child in for their regular cleaning and exam — sports can put unusual stress on teeth that we can identify and address early
Does Your Child Have Braces? They Need a Mouth Guard Too
If your child is currently in braces, a dental injury can be even more serious — a blow to the mouth can damage the braces themselves and cause lacerations from the hardware. We can make a custom mouth guard specifically designed to fit over braces, protecting both the teeth and the orthodontic appliances.
Schedule a Pre-Season Checkup in Germantown
Don’t wait for a sports injury to think about dental protection. Come see us before the summer season kicks into high gear. Children’s Dentistry of Germantown is open Monday and Tuesday 9am–5pm, Wednesday 1pm–7pm, and Thursday and Friday 9am–5pm. Walk-ins are always welcome.
Call us at (301) 540-5757 or book your appointment online. We serve families throughout Germantown, Gaithersburg, Clarksburg, Rockville, and Montgomery County, MD.
From all of us at GTSmilez — have a safe, active, and smile-filled summer!
