Can You Force Your Teenager to Wear Mouthguards in School Sports?

High school, for some teenagers, is as much about navigating changes to their “look” (both in fashion and body) as it is about school itself. Your teenager might be focused on looking their best, or more generally on avoiding negative attention. When it comes to their teeth, for children who have braces embarrassment is always a smile away. And yet, at least in these cases, kids will typically understand the long-term benefit.

For teenagers participating in school sports, on the other hand, the idea of wearing a mouthguard can feel like an unnecessary invitation for ridicule. Even teens who feel confident that their teammates or peers won’t bully them still might object to how they look and feel when wearing a mouthguard. And even where social trepidation is justified, as their parent you’ll be left to figure out how to convince your child to protect their teeth.

Why is wearing a mouthguard important?

Now that fall semester has officially started, a number of school sports have already captured the imagination and excitement of each school. Football and soccer aren’t the only sports that invite injuries to the mouth; come winter, basketball can mean blows to the face, as can spring sports like baseball. That said, fall sports are typically the highest risk for blows to your child’s teeth.

A mouthguard is a preventive shield to protect your teenager’s mouth and teeth from chipping, tooth loss, and more severe harm to teeth nerves. Wearing a mouthguard can even save your teenager from a broken jaw.

Tips to convince your teenager to wear a mouthguard

1. If your teenager is entertaining everything you say, but then “forgetting” or simply choosing not to wear a mouthguard at the time of games or practice, consider getting a custom-fit mouthguard. This does two things: first, if comfort is even a minor issue for your teenager, a more comfortable mouthguard will be more inviting to wear. Second, by making the investment in a custom-fit guard, you can impress upon your teen how seriously you’re taking this issue. This investment can add a heightened sense of responsibility.
2. Your teenager probably understands the purpose of a mouthguard, and can even predict your soapbox speeches about why it’s important. If you aren’t completely certain your child understands the full value, provide the best explanation you can. However, taking another, less-preachy angle can leave a more lasting impression; by explaining to your child how to handle a tooth getting knocked out, you’ll be reiterating the consequence of not using proper mouth wear, albeit indirectly. (For reference: keeping a knocked-out tooth wet, usually in either saliva or milk, is what gives your teenager the best shot at having the tooth re-inserted successfully.)
3. Remember that the idea of wearing a mouthguard is typically harder for girls. Whereas with boys you can point to football players and other professional athletes as examples of men who use mouthguards without a second thought, young women are usually more sensitive to the bulky smiles and spitty speech that happen with guards. Be sensitive to this where you can, but remind teenage daughters that girls can lose teeth, too.

Your responsibility is to make sure your high schoolers head to the field with the right gear. Do whatever parenting you must (according to your own style and preferences) to help kids take tooth safety seriously.