(HealthDay) -- Sports are fun, and coaches say they help build character in children and teens. But they also can be painful.
One in 10 young athletes will suffer an injury to the mouth or face, says the University of Washington (UW) Physicians Online.
To protect the athlete in your family, make sure he or she wears a one of the three kinds of mouthguards: a custom-fitted guard designed for the individual, a "boil-and-bite" guard that molds to the teeth for a nice fit or a stock type made of rubber that's not as comfortable as the other types.
Still, UW Physicians says all three types offer needed protection for the teeth.
