During both recreational and organized sports, it’s important to protect your child’s face and teeth from serious, painful injuries. According to the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety, dental injuries are the most common orofacial injury sustained during sports participation, and, not surprisingly, an athlete is 60 times more likely to sustain damage to the teeth when not wearing a mouthguard.

From 2001 to 2008, a study by the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that the five most common childhood injuries treated at hospital emergency rooms stemmed from basketball, football, bicycling, playgrounds and soccer.

Although mouth guards are primarily designed to protect the teeth, they can also vastly reduce the degree of force transmitted from a trauma impact point, like the jaw, to the central nervous system, minimizing the risk of brain injury. We can custom-fit a mouth guard for your athlete, or you can purchase one at a sporting goods store. If a permanent tooth chips or breaks, fast action can save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. If a permanent tooth falls out, immediately bring the child (and the tooth, if you can find it), in to see us.

Schedule an appointment for your athlete today

Before your kids go back to school and get back to their sports schedule, make an appointment with us for a custom-fitting mouth guard. Whether you child plays recreational or competitive sports, a mouth guard will give you peace of mind that their teeth, face, neck and even brain are protected. Give us a call today at (775) 358-1555.