From soccer balls and ice skates to baseball jerseys and hockey sticks, the shopping list for children's sports seems endless.  To save money and a child's smile, add a mouth protector to your list of things to buy.

50-80% of all dental injuries involved the front teeth and upper jaw.  The cost of treating these injured teeth over a lifetime is estimated at $10,000-20,000. Therefore,  we highly recommend a child wear a mouth protector while participating in any activity with a risk of falls, collisions or contact with hard surfaces.  Examples include hockey, lacrosse, football, baseball, basketball, soccer, wrestling and gymnastics as well as leisure activities such as skateboarding, skating and bicycling.  A mouth guard not only protects the teeth but may reduce the force of blows that can cause concussions, neck injuries and jaw fractures