A lot of area youth play football or hockey because they love the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres and want to be like their heroes. That said, it’s a good idea for kids to use mouthguards while playing sports.
Potential Dental Injuries That Could Occur From Not Wearing a Mouthguard
Imagine a puck or ball hitting you or your kid in the mouth. That could cause what’s known as a “maxillofacial injury” which is not good. Did you know that 10 to 20% of all sports related injuries are these mouth injuries according to the American Dental Association? If only kids would wear mouthguards then they could avoid damaged teeth while playing sports. Rather than sustain permanent damage to oral structures requiring medical intervention, wouldn’t it be easier to just get your kid to wear a protective mouthguard? Yes, it would!
So, what kind of injuries could happen to a young person playing sports if and when they get hit in the mouth? Perhaps they’d get a broken or chipped tooth that bleeds– the tooth gets fractured and needs to be repaired. If a whole tooth gets knocked out that’s called an “avulsion,” where even the root is taken out, too! Then there’s something known as a “luxation,” when a tooth is still in its socket but in the wrong position, and that, too, needs medical attention.
Worst Sports for Dental Injuries
As such, what sports are the worst when it comes to mouth injuries? That would be baseball, basketball, boxing (of course!), football, gymnastics, hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, rugby, skiing, soccer, volleyball and wrestling to name a few.
Prevent mouth injuries by wearing a mouthguard– whether you’re young or old it’s a smart idea. You can buy ready-made mouthguards at stores like Wal-Mart, or have custom-made mouthguards done at a dental office. Mouthguards should fit properly, be durable, and not restrict breathing or speech.
Interested in learning more about mouthguards? Contact Genesee Dental at 585-343-1113. And if you or someone you know recently experienced a sports injury concerning your mouth and you need emergency dental care, definitely call as it’s important to be treated quickly and efficiently.