subject: Keep Your Teeth Safe During Sport [print this page] Protect your child's teeth whislt they play sport by providing them with a dentist-approved mouthguard.
Research has revealed that more than three million teeth are knocked out each year during sporting activities and parents can reduce the risk of this type of dental injury happening to their children by making them wear a mouthguard.
In America basketball and baseball are the two most dangerous sports for smiles whereas in the United Kingdom popular contact games like rugby and football can pose a danger to the safety of a child's teeth.
An increasing number of schoolgirls are taking part in contact sport so their teeth are more at risk from injuries as a result of broken jaws or by being broken, displaced and even knocked out.
Wearing mouthguards is the best way for a child to avoid dental injuries while playing sports and these protective devices can even be customised in order to make it easy to communicate with teammates.
A customised mouthguard may be unnecessary for children who still have some of their baby teeth as a cheaper and equally effective alternative are guards which can be boiled and moulded to a mouth.
If your child does suffer a dental injury while playing sport, there are a number of actions which, if performed quickly, will improve the chance of them enjoying a full recovery.
It is crucial that a child visits a dentist within 24 hours if their teeth are broken or cracked and if a tooth is displaced or knocked out, they should immediately be taken to an emergency room.
Immediate action can help preserve a displaced tooth especially if it is returned to the mouth within half an hour of being knocked out so visiting an emergency dentist in this time frame is essential.
Within this 30 minute window, there are a number of tips that must always be followed in order to improve the displaced tooth's chance of complete survival in the long-term.
Firstly, never touch the root because this can damage it permanently and only attempt to rinse the tooth with milk otherwise avoid cleaning as this will only increase the chance of deterioration.
If you are unable get it place the displaced tooth back into the gum socket, then it is advisable to put it into a cup of milk before heading immediately to the emergency room or dentist.
Following this advice might not save a tooth if the damage is irreparable but it will give it the best chance of survival.
by: Martin Hofschroer
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