By Ashley Valco
Fall is here and school is in session, as well as sports!
For most of you sports parents, the fall also brings after school practices, busy sports schedules, and crisp Saturday mornings in the stands with a hot cup of coffee in your hands.
What you may not be thinking about is your little athletes face and jaw protection.
How many of your kids play sports and do not wear a mouth guard? It may seem unimportant, however, it can protect them from serious injury.
More kids than ever are participating in competitive sports and with that is an increase of injury. The American Dental Association reports that 36% of all unintentional injuries involving youth are sports related and of that, 20% are maxillofacial (jaw and face) injuries. That is startling.
What can you do to protect your children during games?
It is a simple answer: have them wear a mouth guard while playing sports.
What is a mouth guard?
A mouth guard is made of a laminate material or soft plastic. They are worn during sports for maxillofacial protection.
What does a mouth guard do?
They help prevent injuries that can happen during sports. They help prevent injuries to the mouth, teeth, tongue, cheeks, and jaw. They also protect against injuries to the head and neck. A mouth guard will cushion blows that could potentially cause concussions or jaw fractures.
Those in orthodontic treatment should especially wear mouth guards for even lower contact sports to prevent damage to their lips from the brackets.
What kind of mouth guard is best?
Definitely bring this up with your dentist. She will discuss all the options available from custom-made guards to the over-the-counter kind you can find at sporting goods stores.
There are plenty of options. Depending on your child's specific needs, you can get the best recommendation from your dentist.
When it comes to your youth athlete, remember that they are still growing! Changes to their teeth, mouth, and jaw will happen over time. Be sure to visit your dentist regularly and bring the mouth guard along. A dentist can evaluate the guard and will be able to ensure it is still fitting properly.
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