So your child is a regular Jackie Robinson on the baseball field, huh? While you might find yourself quite worried about the safety of their bodies while playing their favorite sports, have you considered the necessity of protecting your child’s teeth as they play?
According to the ADA, thousands of children are treated for preventable dental injuries every year. Even worse, nearly 80 percent of all dental injuries happen to affect at least one of the two front teeth (Colgate). In many cases, injuries sustained while playing sports would not have happened if the child had been wearing the proper mouth guarding equipment. As the parent of an athletic child, the use of mouth guards and helmets can be an anxiety-relieving idea. Both of these items can assist all patients in protecting their teeth from rogue balls, bats, and even elbows that may be thrown their way throughout the course of an athletic event.
Mouth guards work by helping to absorb the shock rendered to the face or jaw area when it is struck. In worst-case scenarios, teeth can be chipped or fully broken, or the child can sustain a major injury such as a concussion or broken jaw. These injuries can become incredibly expensive to repair – so do your best to prevent them from ever happening!
Mouth guards can be purchased for your child at any of our Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics offices. Once purchased, a mouth guard should be checked each year for proper fit and protection. Finally, it is also extremely important to keep your child’s mouth guard clean and away from any heat sources, in order to maintain its shape. The small investment in a mouth guard is absolutely worthwhile – according to Colgate, mouth guards are believed to prevent nearly 200,000 teeth/mouth injuries on a yearly basis.
Stay safe out there – don’t forget to grab a mouth guard for your active son or daughter on your way out of the office next time you’re in.
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, the offices of Drs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics has specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. The pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults, including being an Invisalign preferred provider. The ability to treat all special needs patients reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy. Valued hospital affiliations allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital when needed.
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
39400 Garfield Rd., Suite 200
Clinton Township, MI 48038
586-286-0700
www.mychildsteeth.com
