Brushing Your Baby’s Teeth: When, Why, and How
When should you begin brushing your baby’s teeth? Dr. Christine Landes, or Dr. Chris, as her pediatric patients call her, recommends that brushing begins at the sight of your baby’s first tooth. T
If your child plays sports, they need to wear a mouth guard as an essential and regular piece of protective equipment. Even if they don’t play a contact sport, like football, going without adequate protection can lead to serious orofacial injuries. A properly fitted youth mouth guard is an easy, simple preventative measure.
Sports are common causes of facial trauma and dental injuries in children. According to a study of dental injuries related to sports and recreation, about 11,000 children visit emergency rooms every year for this kind of injury. This doesn’t account for less serious injuries that do not require an ER visit.
The study recorded more injuries in boys and in children between the ages of 7 and 12. Playground equipment, bicycles, and baseball or softball caused the most injuries.
Youth sports participation has increased in recent years. While generally good for health, sports can cause a host of preventable injuries. Trauma to the teeth and face is especially problematic in children, who are still growing. These injuries require immediate and careful treatment to prevent lifelong deformities and other issues.
A child can suffer from several types of facial and dental injuries from contact or falls in sports:
Treatments for these injuries vary depending on type and severity, but all should be checked out by a dentist immediately.
The best way to prevent dental and facial injuries is to use a mouth guard. While a mouth guard in football youth teams has long been the norm, children don’t always wear these protective devices in sports with less contact.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children wear mouth guards while participating in any sport that could result in an orofacial injury. This includes baseball and softball, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics, soccer, and others.
Mouth guard selection can be a little confusing, so it’s best to talk to your child’s dentist about these options and which is best:
This is a simple over-the-counter product. You place it in the mouth and bite down to hold it in place. There is no way to modify this type of mouth guard to make it more protective or to fit better. While there are limitations to the effectiveness of this type, it is still better than no protection.
A subtype of the stock mouth guard, this style includes protection for the lips. The lips are also vulnerable to injuries while playing sports, so these provide additional protection. You will see them most commonly in football. A downside to the lip guard is that the athlete cannot easily communicate with other players.
A step up from the stock mouth guard is a modifiable model. This type is made from a type of material that changes in response to heat. You submerge it in hot water and then put it in the mouth to shape it.
For the best protection, choose a custom mouth guard. Dentists make these based on models of the young athlete’s mouth. Fitted mouth guards provide the most protection and comfort. They are also most likely to stay in the mouth during activities. While they cost more than other models, a fitted mouth guard is still less costly than treatment for some dental injuries.
If you have a child involved in any type of sport, it’s time to start thinking about mouth guards. Request an appointment with our experienced pediatric dentist to learn more about your options, including a custom-fitted mouth guard.
AUTHOR
Newtown Dentistry
DATE
November 11, 2022
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Keep up with the latest Newtown Dentistry news, adventures, dental tips, and more. With upwards of two decades in providing excellence in dental care to children and adults, Dr. Chris Landes and her talented and skilled dental colleagues share a variety of resources you won’t want to miss.
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