According to the American Dental Association, 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. Bartz would like to make sure that every athlete knows how to keep their teeth safe from harm. No Heath parent should have to worry about their child’s teeth during games, so at KB Dental we would like to talk about how to take sports safety to the next level.
In Heath, 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. Custom mouthguards are the key to oral safety in sports.
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. Bartz reminds 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 KB Dental, 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.
Dr. Bartz would like every Heath 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. Bartz 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 contact us! At KB Dental, we are committed to providing quality dental care in Heath and that means making sure that all our athletes are protected!
Sources:
http://www.aapd.org/http://www.drosmanski.com/blog/category/Sports.html
http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/position-statement-and-recommendations-for-mouthguard-use-in-sports
http://blog.brighter.com/2013/score-big-with-dental-safety-and-sports/#_ftn1
