According to the American Dental Association [http://www.ada.org/en/], at least 13% of all injuries to the mouth occur during sports activities. While helmets, shoulder pads, shin guards, and the like do a great job of protecting most of the body, Dr. Brickey would like to make sure that every athlete knows how to keep their teeth safe from harm. No Salt Lake City parent should have to worry about their child’s teeth during games, so at Natural Smiles Dentistry we would like to talk about how to take sports safety to the next level.
Mouthguards and Sports Safety
In Salt Lake City, we live for a good game. Our athletes train hard to win, so it’s not hard to imagine why they don’t shy away from contact. However, that doesn’t mean that your family has to suffer the consequences of a sports-related oral injury. Mouthguards are the key to oral safety in sports.
When to Get a Mouthguard
Let’s say your child has decided to sign up for a high school team, or maybe you’ve joined a local sports league. Now you’re wondering – do I really need a mouthguard? Does my child need one? More often than not, the answer is yes. Dr. Brickey remind us that an oral sports injury can cause anything from a swollen lip to a chipped, broken, or knocked-out tooth to severe tissue damage. Mouth protectors provide a buffer, substantially reducing the risk of harm from an impact. Some research even suggests that mouthguards help protect against concussions. Here are some surprising facts about mouthguards and sports safety:
Although schools only require mouthguards for football, lacrosse, field hockey, and ice hockey, basketball and baseball have the highest occurrences of dental injury. To add to that, there are more than 29 sports for which the American Dental Association recommends the use of mouth protectors. Here at Natural Smiles Dentistry, we want everyone to have a healthy, protected smile, so make sure to give us a call if you have any questions about the need for a mouthguard.
Finding the Right Mouthguard
Dr. Brickey would like every Salt Lake City resident to know that sports safety extends beyond just using a mouthguard. In order to have maximum protection, your child or teen needs to wear a properly-fitted mouth protector during games and practices. Most mouthguards cover only the top row of teeth, but Dr. Brickey may recommend coverage for both rows under certain circumstances. A mouthguard should never make breathing or speaking difficult. In addition, mouthguards should be resilient, tear-resistant, and fit comfortably in the user’s mouth. Below are the three main types of mouth protectors:
Have any questions? Don’t hesitate to give us a call! At Natural Smiles Dentistry, we are committed to providing the best dental care in Salt Lake City and that means making sure that all our athletes are protected!
Sources
http://www.drosmanski.com/blog/category/Sports.html
http://blog.brighter.com/2013/score-big-with-dental-safety-and-sports/#_ftn1
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