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Children2 min read · July 22, 2026

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Sport and teeth: mouthguards and dental trauma

Football, basketball, bikes: dental trauma in children is frequent and often avoidable. How custom mouthguards work and what to do in an emergency.

A basketball clash, a bike fall: dental trauma is among the most frequent accidents of sporting childhood. Two things make the difference: prevention and knowing what to do in the first minutes.

The custom mouthguard

Built on a digital impression (intraoral scanner, no pastes), it protects teeth, lips and the joint by distributing impact. Unlike universal models it stays in place and lets kids talk and breathe — so they actually wear it.

Emergency: the knocked-out tooth

For a permanent tooth, time is everything:

  1. Hold it by the crown, never the root.
  2. Quick rinse, no scrubbing.
  3. Reinsert it in the socket if possible; otherwise carry it in milk or saliva.
  4. Dentist within 60 minutes: the tooth's survival depends on it.

Baby teeth are not reimplanted: we assess the permanent tooth bud at the practice instead.

With braces

Fixed braces call for dedicated mouthguards: let's discuss it at the orthodontic check-up.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Which sports need a mouthguard?

All contact sports (rugby, martial arts, basketball, football) and fall-risk activities (bikes, skates). For children with braces, protection matters even more.

Is a shop-bought mouthguard fine?

Better than nothing, but universal models protect little and fit poorly. A custom guard, built on a digital impression, truly protects while letting kids breathe and speak.

A tooth got knocked out: what do I do?

If permanent: hold it by the crown (never the root), rinse without scrubbing, reinsert it in the socket if possible or carry it in milk, and reach the dentist within 60 minutes.

Clinical review: Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara