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. Diehl would like to make sure that every athlete knows how to keep their teeth safe from harm. No Fort Wayne parent should have to worry about their child’s teeth during games, so at Dupont Family Dentistry we would like to talk about how to take sports safety to the next level.
In Fort Wayne, 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.
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. Diehl 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 Dupont Family Dentistry, we want everyone to have a healthy, protected smile, so make sure to contact us if you have any questions about the need for a mouthguard.
Dr. Diehl would like every Fort Wayne 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. Diehl 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 Dupont Family Dentistry, we are committed to providing the best dental care in Fort Wayne 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
Use the form above to request an appointment and someone from our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Mon | 8:00 am-3:00 pm |
Tue | 8:00 am-3:00 pm |
Wed | 8:00 am-3:00 pm |
Thu | 8:00 am-3:00 pm |
Fri | 8:00 am-3:00 pm |
Please call us at (260) 209-1550 or fill out the form below to request an appointment.
If you would prefer to call us, please do so by calling (260) 209-1550.