From weekends on the soccer fields to trips to the local park, the warmer temperatures bring much-needed outdoor activities! Unfortunately, this can also bring an increased risk of injury if proper safety isn’t top of mind. That’s why, in honor of National Facial Protection Month, we want to share tips to ensure we can all keep ourselves and our teeth healthy and happy.
The five most common childhood injuries all come from participating in activities such as football, basketball, biking, playgrounds and soccer. But there’s good news! Most of the injuries, such as soft-tissue damage and chipping/loss of teeth, can be very easily prevented by proper mouth and face protection.
Guard Those Teeth
A well-fitting mouthguard can protect against serious injuries to your teeth such as cracks, breaks or even displacement. In fact, according to the American Dental Association, mouthguards prevent up to 200,000 facial injuries each year.
While they are mandatory for some American sports such as football and hockey, not all youth sports require children to wear mouthguards despite how efficient they are in preventing mouth-related injuries.
If your children are involved in sports, make sure to check for mouthguards at the next practice, or purchase one for them! Standard mouth guards are effective but uncomfortable at times. Bite-and-fit mouthguards, as the name suggests, can be molded to fit your child’s mouth and are usually much more comfortable. Though both are great options and can prevent dental and facial injuries, they aren’t always accommodating for braces or other appliances. For that perfect fit, visit your dentist and they’ll walk you through their custom mouthguard options!
We Can Help.
If you have any questions about mouth injury prevention, contact us. We can discuss your family’s activity and sports needs and explore options to make sure you don’t have to come see us with an emergency.
If you or a loved one is dealing with dental issues from a face injury, come see us. Our team is available to provide our cosmetic and restorative dentistry expertise to help correct issues and give you the smile you love!