Mouth Guards in Sports
If you play physical sports, you probably know
the importance of protective sports gear. One underappreciated piece of
equipment is the mouth guard. Mouth guards prevent thousands of oral
injuries every year but can prevent thousands more. These injuries include
knocked out teeth, broken or chipped teeth, bitten or cut tongues, jaw
collisions and more.
Mouth Guards are not just for football and
hockey players. Basketball players and soccer players are just as likely
to sustain a dental injury. Any game that involves physical contact can
result in dental damage. This includes but is not limited to
football, soccer, rugby, wrestling, baseball, softball, hockey, martial
arts, boxing, lacrosse, skateboarding, cycling and field hockey. So if you
or your child plays a physical sport, consult your family dentist on
having a custom tooth guard fitted.
Saving Damaged Teeth
If your tooth does get knocked out, it is not
necessarily gone forever. They can be saved if you are careful. First
retrieve the lost tooth and if it is dirty, rinse it off gently being
careful not to touch the root or use any soap or other chemicals. If
possible, insert the tooth back into the socket and hold it in place with
your fingers or by using gentle biting pressure. If you cannot replace the
tooth in your mouth, place the tooth in a glass of milk, inside your cheek
or in a glass of water if you cannot find milk. Get to a dentist as soon
as possible, hopefully within thirty minutes. |
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