Monday, June 9, 2014

Protecting your teeth from summer sports

If you or your child plans to participate in sports this summer, make sure you’re taking the necessary precautions to prevent tooth loss or damage to your braces. In older children and adults, sports injuries are common. Dentists estimate that between 13% and 39% of dental injuries occur while playing sports.

Currently, the state only requires football players to consistently wear mouth guards and this measure is believed to prevent about 200,000 mouth injuries a year. Not surprisingly, most sports-related mouth injuries come from sports where mouth guards aren’t required: basketball, soccer and especially baseball. A study of high school athletes found that 75% of injuries occurred when mouth guards weren’t worn.

A mouth guard is a soft plastic or laminate device used in sports to prevent oral injuries to the teeth, mouth, cheeks, tongue and jaw. There are many different types of mouth guards to choose from, but a  custom-mouth guard will provide the highest level of protection.

If you are playing a sport and you chip or lose a tooth, put the chip or tooth in a cup of water and call your dentist immediate. If any damage is done to your braces, call your orthodontist’s office to schedule an appointment to get it fixed. Protect yourself this summer with a mouth guard! 


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