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If you\u2019re the parent of a child who plays soccer, football, rugby, or any other close contact sport, and you\u2019re worried about their oral health, you\u2019re not alone. <\/p>\n
Unfortunately, there are a lot of injuries and instances that can damage anyone\u2019s oral health during sports, not just children, so being prepared and taking the necessary precautions to ensure that the worst doesn\u2019t happen is extremely important.<\/p>\n
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Approximately 50% of sports injuries are directly to the mouth, which is a scary number. The majority of these oral sports injuries require immediate emergency dental treatment<\/a> for various reasons. If they are not treated, however, it could critically affect their appearance and overall oral health. <\/p>\n Depending on how severe the fractured tooth is, it may be able to be fixed by a dentist straight away using restorative materials. However, to properly do this, immediate attention will be needed or else the tooth will continue to fracture and fall out completely, which is very painful. <\/p>\n If you\u2019ve seen a professional hockey player that has had multiple teeth knocked out, chances are it was from taking pucks to the face. Tooth loss<\/a> is one of the most common sports injuries that affect oral health where hockey, for example, is concerned. <\/p>\n Once a permanent tooth has been knocked out, immediate action is needed. If you can find the tooth you must hold it by the crown and rinse it gently under water, but do not scrub it. Make an emergency appointment with your child\u2019s dentist and bring the tooth with you to the appointment. If the dentist feels that it can be implanted back in, he or she will do so.<\/p>\n However, if you can not immediately go to the dentist and must wait a day or two, keep the tooth in a cup of milk. Do not try to implant it back yourself as you may damage the tooth and the dentist will not be able to put it back. That\u2019s when a costly implant will be required to save the bone structure of the jaw. <\/p>\n However, if a couple of hours go by, never mind a couple of days, there is little chance that the tooth can be successfully planted back in. After approximately 30 minutes, the change of this goes down by about 10% every 5 minutes.<\/p>\n If your child has gotten hit hard enough during sports and complains about pain their mouth, it\u2019s possible they have a tooth extrusion. This can happen is any sport played, or even on a daily basis. The trauma caused to the oral region results in a tooth that has not yet erupted fully to partially erupt from the socket and towards the palate.<\/p>\n A non-rigid splint will be required should this occur in order to gently position the tooth properly again so it can erupt the way that it should. Should this occur your child will need to be pulled out of sports for awhile. The monitoring and recovery process is crucial to the life of this tooth and the pulp, so endodontic treatment may be needed. <\/p>\n If an injury occurs and there is bleeding from the mouth, even if it\u2019s only a small amount, have your child wash their mouth out using water and soap as soon as possible. If there are foreign objects or dirt in the mouth ensure that everything comes out and rinse a few more times. <\/p>\n If there is quite a bit of bleeding apply pressure using a wad of paper towel, gauze, a tea towel, whatever you can find on hand. However, if the bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes, immediately seek medical attention at a hospital or emergency dentist, preferably the latter of the two. <\/p>\n If the gums have become damaged during an injury it\u2019s important to see a dentist straight away. If the gum damage is prolonged and made worse through further injury or regular life, such as eating crunchy foods that scrape against it, tooth loss could occur from severe damage.<\/p>\n This occurs when your child takes a hard fall and does not have enough time to brace themselves. If they hit the ground on their jaw, their teeth will close on their lip more often than not and instantly split the lip. This can also affect the tongue, as well.<\/p>\n There are multiple ways to prevent oral damage through a sports related injury. By taking the proper precautions to ensure that the worst cannot happen, your child can play sports as much as they want. Plus, you as the parent will not have to worry about at least one area becoming damaged.<\/p>\n The most obvious ways to protect your child\u2019s oral health from sports injuries would be to have them wear a mouth guard. They are very easy to find and can be bought online or over the counter at your local drugstore. You can usually find them in sports stores, too. <\/p>\n While the inexpensive \u201cboil and bite\u201d ones are preferable and very easy to find, they are not always the best ones to choose. Typically you need to boil it in water for a few minutes and then have your child bite down with a lot of pressure to get the proper indents needed. Although, these don\u2019t usually last very long, are uncomfortable, and don\u2019t get the proper fit more often than not. <\/p>\n If you\u2019re going to get a mouth guard<\/a> for your child, you should do so properly. Your dentist can make a proper mouth guard that will be comfortable and fit them well enough. <\/p>\n While it\u2019s definitely more expensive than one you\u2019d find outside of the office, they offer a lot more protection and will not give out.<\/p>\n The following bullet points explain how to properly care for your child\u2019s mouth guard:<\/p>\n \u2022 After it\u2019s been used rinse it with cold water and let it air-dry Properly caring for your child\u2019s mouth guard will ensure that it will last as long as possible. Keeping it in good shape ensures that your child\u2019s mouth will be just as safe, too.<\/p>\n Sport stores will carry multiple different types of helmets for each sport. You can go to one and ask about a helmet for your child. Ensure you let the sales representative there know what sport your child plays and any other relevant information. They will fit your child for the helmet that he or she needs.<\/p>\n Nothing prevents sports injuries more than knowing the rules of the game and the risks that come along with them. Teaching your child about what could happen, where injuries are concerned, when playing the game is the best way for them to look out for a potential impact or injury.<\/p>\n Injuries during sports often occur because people, both children and adults, get too rough, ignore the rules, and are just in it to win it. In this case, it becomes a very dangerous game and they run the risk of getting hurt.<\/p>\n If your child goes into a sports game with weak, vulnerable teeth, the worst is going to occur even if they take a fall that isn\u2019t a hard one. A lot of children have lost teeth, both premature and permanent, because they are playing sports with poor oral health. Therefore, the safety of their oral health during sports<\/a> starts long before they can get to the field.<\/p>\n \n\u201cAny sport your child may participate in involves using some sort of equipment or special uniform just to participate. Make a mouth guard and a helmet part of the required equipment package.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. David Hudnall<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Your child should be brushing their teeth at least twice a day, flossing once, and even using mouthwash if they like it. It\u2019s not uncommon for your child to be resilient when it comes to brushing their teeth, but you as the parent must ensure that they do so. This is especially important if your kid plays sports. <\/p>\n If your kid does not have proper oral health and only sees the dentist once or twice a year, you\u2019re going to be paying multiple, costly dental bills because they have oral issues as a result of sports injuries.<\/p>\n There are also toothpastes that strengthen enamel and are designed specifically for children. They come in mild flavors, too. Strengthening your child\u2019s enamel is also extremely important if they are going to be playing sports on a regular basis. <\/p>\n Sports aside, having strong enamel is important throughout your entire life, so start this routine as early as possible.<\/p>\n Do not make the routine too challenging for them, and start out slow. For example, starting out with brushing on its own is a great way to begin. Adding flossing into the mix too early or straight away will only frustrate them and make things challenging, especially if they are very young.<\/p>\n Start by having them brush their teeth twice a day and gradually move on to everything else. If they need some encouragement and guidance to do so then make it happen. Educate, and even scare them if need be, on the importance of having proper oral hygiene and what will happen if they don\u2019t brush their teeth.<\/p>\n Children pick up habits and other stuff by watching what their parents do. If you aren\u2019t practicing proper oral hygiene every day, how do you expect your kids to want to do the same? By practicing what you preach, and even going through their daily oral hygiene routine with them, you will show them how important it is and that it\u2019s a necessary part of life. <\/p>\n Even if it\u2019s just a regular checkup or a cleaning of the teeth, getting them used to these twice a year appointments is very important.<\/p>\n Parents should know and realize that bringing them to the dentist for the first time when they are in their toddler years will help them to get used to it. Around the ages of 6 to 9 is when the oral health issues start, such as cavities, for example. Therefore, having them used to it before a frightening procedure, in their eyes, occurs.<\/p>\n By knowing what can happen, equipping them with the proper safety gear, and keeping their oral health up at home between visits to the dentists, you should have very little to worry about where oral health is concerned during sports. Remember to educate your child on the matters, make things a regular routine, and let them have fun!<\/p>\n www.health24.com <\/a> – This website includes some insightful knowledge to the more common sports related injuries and a solution. It\u2019s helpful for parents who are looking for a place that has more information on all types of health issues and not just oral health.<\/p>\n www.colgate.com <\/a>– This website gives helpful information on gear to protect oral health, as well as other measures that will help in this case.<\/p>\n www.mouthhealthykids.org <\/a> – A fantastic website for parents who want to learn all they can about keeping up with and improving the oral health of their children. Has a lot of great information, tips, and more. <\/p>\n www.colgate.com – childrens oral care<\/a> – This article has some great tips for creating and sticking to an oral health routine for kids. It also has a lot of other useful information for parents all over the website in general, considering it\u2019s a toothpaste brand\u2019s website.<\/p>\nTooth Fracture<\/h3>\n
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\nHaving a tooth fracture can happen virtually anywhere, not just in sports. However, it\u2019s one of the most common sports injuries that affect oral health. Fracturing a tooth could occur from something as simple as falling down and landing on your jawline, for example.<\/p>\nTooth Loss<\/h3>\n
Tooth Extrusion<\/h3>\n
Damage to the Soft Tissues<\/h3>\n
Splitting of the Lips<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nWear a Mouth Guard<\/h3>\n
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\n\u2022 If your child uses it on a regular basis, clean it occasionally with mouthwash or mild soapy water
\n\u2022 Store the mouth guard in a protective plastic container, you will get one if it\u2019s been crafted by a dentist, to ensure heat and cold cannot damage it
\n\u2022 Tell your child not to chew on it and to ensure that he or she always wears it properly
\n\u2022 Check it regularly to ensure that it\u2019s not tearing, cracking, or wearing down
\n\u2022 If the mouth guard no longer fits the way it should or your child\u2019s bite has changed, bring it back to the dentist to have a new one made or the original altered<\/p>\nWear a Helmet<\/h2>\n
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\nFootball and hockey, for example, require helmets to protect not only the skull but the mouth, as well. The need for a helmet is pretty obvious, and acquiring one for your child is relatively easy.<\/p>\nTeach Them the Rules and the Risks<\/h2>\n
Steps to Take Further to Protect Their Teeth<\/h2>\n
Having a Proper Oral Hygiene Routine<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nSticking to the Set Routine<\/h2>\n
Practice What You Preach <\/h2>\n
The Importance of Regular Dental Visits<\/h2>\n
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\nMaking the dentist a regular thing starts when you\u2019re a child. Therefore, bringing your child to the dentist every 6 months is crucial to their oral health. <\/p>\nKeeping Your Kid\u2019s Teeth Safe in Sports<\/h2>\n
Resources <\/h2>\n