Methods for Preventing Dental Injury
In adults and children, physical damage is not uncommon. Dentists have documented that approximately 30 percent of dental injuries occur while participating in sports activities. Almost 80 percent of instances lead to at least one or both front teeth getting damaged or dislocated, along with injury to soft tissue. However, competitors who wear a mouth guard limit their likelihood of tooth dislocations, tooth breakages, and gum and palate nicks. In addition, it protects against concussions and jaw breakage by absorbing the momentum from a strike to the head.
The staff at Made Ya Smile is a community-focused dental clinic that contributes full-spectrum assistance to residents in the Houston, TX area.
Sports safety and preserving your smile
Organized sports with the greatest number of mouth damages are hockey, football, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, and softball. Biking, skating, and skateboarding are also physically involved with greater probability of creating oral issues. Unfortunately, according to the American Dental Association (ADA), 84 percent of young athletes do not wear a mouth guard while performing in a high impact activity. It is often not a mandatory piece of safety equipment like helmets, shoulder pads, chin guards, etc. It is advisable to use recommended safeguards to keep your body safe, and acquiring a mouth guard will help prevent dental impact and reduce the hazard of tooth removal while you are involved in a contact athletic activity. More recreational security pieces of advice are:
- Wear all recommended protective equipment
- Put on a helmet
- Utilize a secure face barrier to secure against face-area damage, especially while competing in football, hockey, or lacrosse
- Play with a mouth guard, even if it is not mandatory
Sports safety: several varieties of mouth guards
Contrary to dentist recommendations, a mouth guard is not frequently given as safety gear when engaging in a impact activity. Even so, the most frequent causes of mouth problems take place when participants do not wear a mouth guard. Our experts at Made Ya Smile desires to share with Houston, TX players about utilizing a mouth guard and protecting their oral health. There are three main groups of mouth guards:
- Stock mouth guards are prepared to put on right out of the box but usually aren't shaped to fit your mouth. They can be purchased at most athletic stores.
- Boil-and-bite mouth guards can be found at any sporting goods store and begin in an unmolded condition to be form-fitted by heating in hot water.
- Custom-crafted mouth guards require a a consultation with Made Ya Smile. They provide the optimal conformity and protection.
In urgent situations
If a permanent tooth is knocked out, the most advisable solution is to restore it directly to its original location. However, when your young athlete loses a baby tooth, don't make an effort to reinsert it; instead, schedule an appointment with your dental care provider quickly. Even when a tooth is broken off, it frequently can be saved by contacting the dentist without delay for immediate oral care and carrying out these tips:
- Find the tooth promptly
- If covered in dirt, rinse with water
- Grasp the tooth by the upper portion, not the roots
- Place it back into the socket (only if a adult tooth)
- Softly clamp between your teeth a soft item or towel to hold it still
- In the event that a absent tooth cannot be secured into the socket, drop it in a glass of milk while seeking emergency dental support
Oral emergencies do occur – but utilizing a mouth guard while engaging in contact sports or doing many high-risk leisure activities outstandingly reduces your chances of mouth-related issues. Even if our office is not open, completely adhere to the directions provided on our office voice recording, which will help you understand what to do next when you must seek out emergency dental care. If you are looking for family dental services in Houston, TX, call Made Ya Smile or book an appointment.
