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bmoser
1633 Posts |
 Posted - 02/07/2011 : 18:33:29
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My son plays 12U, and pitches a bit. I was considering a mouth guard for him to wear when he pitches or hits. These 12U boys are reaching puberty, and the distance from home to mound is unchanged from 11U.
What do you all think? Did your son wear one? Are they store bought or custom fitted by a Dentist? Are they for the upper and lower jaw, or are they one piece? I could use some help.
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Coach D
167 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2011 : 21:49:25
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Hey Moser , not trying to discount your concern for your son , but is a rubber mouthguard really gonna affect the damage caused by a line drive to the mouth? We had a kid on our team (pitching) take one to the eyesocket in the fall . That is the first time in my 5 + years coaching I have seen that happen. IMO the odds of that happening are too low to worry with the mouthguard,not to mention dont think it will affect the damage caused if it actually happens.That being said as a concerned parent i also feel that if you think it will make him or you feel safer there nothing wrong with the extra protection??? |
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2011 : 07:58:01
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Coach D,
Our Dentist said it helps minimize the damage, and his kids wear them for all their sports. He said you can buy them at Dicks, but I don't see how one size fits all. Are there any folks out there who have experienced the shot to the mouth with or w/o mouth guard? I think I've seen 1 or 2 kids wearing them. I think 12U is the most dangerous which is why I am considering it for him.
I've wondered why they wear those plastic eye guards in racquetball, but not baseball. I realize the odds of getting hit comes into play, but the severity of potential damage seems to be ignored. |
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beanball
222 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2011 : 09:38:08
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We had a teammate in the OF get hit in the mouth when the ball tipped off his glove. Pushed all his upper front teeth in, fortunately there was no permanent damage but he did spend the night in emergency and the weekend in the dentist & endodontist office. I think he now wears a mouth guard.
I tried to get my boys to wear one but they won't. I think they're a good idea at all positions.
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Coach D
167 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2011 : 09:38:49
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| Hey Moser, I agree , and would like to hear more opinions on this subject. My son mostly catches ,so he is always fully geared , so I dont have to worry about him quite as much!! He likes to pop up early sometimes when someones stealing ,so I do worry about a bat to the back of the head. |
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prestont
197 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2011 : 09:55:45
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bmoser -
Last year we had a kid who got hit in the mouth with a throw from C while sliding into 2B. He lost a tooth and wound up with a root canal. His orthodontist recommended wearing a mouthguard, and from what I recall many mouthguards you can purchase now can be custom fit by submerging in hot water for a few minutes prior to 'molding' to your sons mouth/bite.
You definitely not the only one asking about this. One of our neighbors said they are considering having their whole team wear mouthguards, asked if we were going to do the same. My son doesn't wear one, but I've heard this question pop up a couple times leading up to spring. |
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momshell
103 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2011 : 11:21:42
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| My 2 played 12U last year and pitched some and one played third a lot. They were both able to handle the fast hits that came back at them. Our coach told all infielders that they had to wear mouthguards. That only lasted for about half of the season as the boys would chew on them while they were out there, so they sort of became a distraction, which is probably more dangerous than playing without one. Our SS did take a hit to the face, but not the mouth. The ones you buy at Dick's are one piece and conform to your mouth after being immersed in hot water and bitten down on. Buy a good one if you're getting one. I agree with Coach D. I'm not sure how much good they do, but if it makes you both feel safer, it's worth it. |
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HITANDRUN
436 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2011 : 13:55:31
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| I think you can buy mouth guards at local sporting goods stores just as good as the ones the dentist custom fit that are more expensive. Shock Doctor makes a good one and a mouth guard may not do anything when hit with a baseball but it's like wearing shoes when you lift weights. Has to provide some sort of protection to the Jaw, teeth, brain etc even if minimal. My son rather chew on his than protect his teeth with it though. |
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BatChipper
52 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2011 : 19:03:43
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| Well what do you think about the face mask while they are pitching? When we play as 8 yr olds we had our pitching circle player wear one, but he always complained about it. With some of the shots that come off these bats, really puts the pitcher at risk. |
Edited by - BatChipper on 02/08/2011 22:26:39 |
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2011 : 19:52:30
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Guys,
Thanks so much, I'm reading every post and e-mail. The heat molded ones sounds like what I will go with. My son chews on his glove laces now, so maybe the mouthguard will be a more suitable replacement.
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Topic |
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Mouth Guards
