While sports are fun to play, they can wreak havoc on our teeth. It is incredibly important to proactively protect our teeth: After all, once we lose our baby teeth, we’re stuck with the ones we have so it is crucial to take precautions that will minimize tooth damage. It is estimated that between 13-39% of all dental injuries occur while playing sports so it is even more important to cautiously protect your teeth from sports-related injuries. In this week’s blog, learn how you can protect your teeth from sports injuries.
Sports are a leading cause of dental injury.
Protecting Your Teeth From Sports-Related Dental Injuries
Dental injuries can occur during any sports so it is important to protect yourself. The most common dental injury affects at least one of the front teeth, though injury to the cheek or tongue are also common. The best way to prevent a sports-related dental injury is by investing in proper protective equipment.
Helmets
If you are playing any kind of sport that involves impact or speed then a helmet is non-negotiable. It is important to invest in the right kind of helmet for your sport to ensure that it will properly protect you from injury. For example, you would not want to wear a bike helmet during a football game because it would not guard you from the type of injury that you would likely experience. Helmets do degrade over time so it is important to replace them per the manufacturer’s directions: generally you will need a new helmet any time your old one is involved in an accident or if it’s older that 3 years. Old helmets can lose their effectiveness as the lining wears down.
Mouth guards
A mouth guard is an inexpensive way to protect your teeth, lips, and tongue and is especially important during impact sports. The most effective mouth guards can be custom-made by your dentist to ensure that they will properly fit your mouth. However, you can also purchase a ready-made model at any sporting goods stores. The best off the shelf version is the kind that you “boil-and-bite.” While this type won’t fit as precisely as a custom-made version it will still offer better protection than one that is meant to be one-size-fits-all.
Your Olney Dentist
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