Article written by Elite Dental Group
Sports are a wonderful way for children to socialize while learning valuable lessons about leadership, patience, and teamwork. However, as with practicing any sport, children will be exposed to higher risks of sports-related injuries. According to the US centers for disease control and prevention, half of all annual injuries are from sports and recreational activities involving children as young as 5 years. Often these injuries occur to the face, mouth, and teeth which can be painful and difficult to fix.
To protect your child, consider the following dentist-approved recommendations.
Headgear – For children who play on a court or field, wearing a helmet can help to guard the face. Additionally, a helmet with a face shield will prevent damage around the eyes, nose, jaw, and teeth. Although face shields do prevent some injuries, children may bite down hard when they are injured causing teeth to crack or break.
Mouthguards – Most children need to wear mouthguards for sports like swimming and soccer. But are not required to wear them for sports like football, baseball, and lacrosse, which are also sports that can cause injury. Mouthguards are affordable and much less costly than fixing a chipped or broken tooth. Only invest in a mouthguard that has been approved by the American Dental Association as they meet specified standards required to protect young teeth. If you feel that the mouthguards at a sports store are uncomfortable, a pediatric dentist can custom make a mouthguard to your child’s specifications.
Additionally, let your child know that they should play as per the rules of the game and always avoid aggressive play which can result in injury. Letting your child know the dangers and injuries that could occur, will encourage them to play by the rules.
At Elite Dental Group they use the most modern technology to provide their clients with a pleasant, safe dental experience. Dr. Andre Eliasian and his team offer services such as cosmetic dentistry, wisdom tooth extraction, dental implants, tooth whitening, oral surgery, and more. If you are in Glendale, Burbank or neighboring cities call for an appointment.