Most Sports Dental Injuries Are Preventable And Treatable
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends wearing custom mouthguards for most sports, to reduce the incidence and severity of dental injuries.
Later we will also discuss the types of mouthguards you have to choose from, the reasons why you should use a mouthguard, and finally, what steps to take if an adult tooth does get knocked out.
The Sports It Is Recommended Your Child Wear A Mouthguard
- basketball
- football
- gymnastics
- field hockey
- football
- ice hockey
- lacrosse
- martial arts
- racquetball
- roller hockey
- rugby
- shot put
- skateboarding
- skiing
- soccer
- volleyball
- weightlifting
- wrestling
5 Reasons to Wear a Mouthguard When Playing Sports
1. Protects against tooth fracture
The mouthguard protects the teeth from breakage or fracture by cushioning the teeth.
2. Protects against tooth displacement
A mouthguard distributes the force all over your teeth so that just one tooth isn’t receiving a crushing blow.
3. Protects against a tooth knockout
No one wants a large space in their smile because a tooth gets knocked out. If it’s a baby tooth, it may require a space maintainer until the permanent tooth is ready to come in.
4. Protects your soft tissue
If you get hit hard your teeth can lacerate your lips, tongue or cheeks. The mouthguard protects your entire mouth from harm.
5. Protect against jaw fractures and possibly concussions
If you are hit in the head it can cause your teeth to be forcefully slammed together. If you are wearing a properly fitted mouthguard it will absorb some of that impact.
Types of Mouthguards
- Ready-made mouthguard
- Mouth-formed “boil and bite” mouthguard
- A custom-made mouthguard made by your dentist
According to the American Dental Association, the most effective mouthguard is comfortable (because if you’re not wearing it, what can it protect!?), resistant to tears and flexible. Your mouthguard needs to fit properly, be durable, easily cleaned, and not restrict your speech or breathing!
What if an adult tooth gets knocked out?!
It can be saved if the proper steps are followed immediately after:
- Call your dentist right away
- Trying not to touch the root, place it back in the socket where it fell out so that it is level with your other teeth.
- If that’s not possible, you’ll need to keep the tooth moist. The best option is to store the tooth (while in route to the dentist) in an emergency tooth preserving system, such as “Save-A-Tooth”. If you don’t have this in your first aid kit, the next best place is in milk. It has been proven to keep the periodontal ligament cells healthy enough for re-implantation.
- Go to your dentist.
We want to help you protect that wonderful smile!
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