One of the most common dental emergencies we see are ones related to sports or other physical activities. Elbows are flying and sometimes people get hurt while they are having fun. Thankfully, these dental emergencies are some of the easiest to prevent.
If you are a parent or even a kid playing sports, here are some things you can do to make sure your smile is safe while you are enjoying your sports.
Always Wear a Mouth Guard
Mouth guards are custom protective gear used for sports such as:
- Hockey
- Football
- Baseball
- Soccer
- Rugby
- Wrestling
Your coach should recommend a mouth guard if your sport requires one, but if not, you can contact your dentist to see if they recommend a mouth guard.
Mouth guards protect your mouth in case there is impact from another player. Wearing mouth guards also prevents your teeth from damaging each other if you grind your jaw or if they knock against each other. They are squishy retainers that essentially provide an extra layer of padding, just like shoulder pads for football players!
Lake Forest Dentistry will create custom mouth guards that won’t slip or fall while you are playing your sports. You can contact us for one today.
Wearing helmets and your other protective gear can also help your jaw and teeth remain safe!
Wear Helmets and Use Safety Tactics on Bikes
Bike helmets protect more than just your skull. If you do happen to fall off your scooter or bike, a helmet prevents your jaw from making a harsh impact on the ground, which can prevent knocked out or chipped teeth. Make sure that your helmet is not expired.
Ensuring that children are supervised on bikes is an essential part of keeping their smiles healthy in the long run. Make sure that they do drive at each other with their bikes or do tricks they aren’t trained to do.
One Hit Rule
Helmets and often sports gear are no longer viable protection after they have had one severe hit or fall. If your bike helmet protects your head once it might not be able to protect your head again, so go buy a new one!
Train with Professionals
If you or your child are doing tricks or sports that may be dangerous if done correctly, start by having a professional or coach in person to help out. For things like parkour or gymnastics, a spotter is often present to help out with your overall safety.
At casual get-togethers where a game of ball might occur, if you are in doubt you can keep your hands in front of your face if you are catching the ball.
What to Do If an Emergency Does Happen?
Sometimes dental emergencies happen despite your best efforts in safety. Don’t wait until a practice has been completed to get help. Visit your nearest dentist in Lake Forest, Illinois, quickly. We will advise you on what to do next.
If you have had a tooth fall out or a chip occurs, keep the piece of tooth. We may be able to place the tooth back in your tooth and help your body bind around the tooth again.
We offer comprehensive restorative and emergency dental services if something happens. If you cannot get ahold of us or a nearby dentist, you can find a 24-hour dentist or visit the emergency room.
Emergency Dental for Every Case
Preventing emergencies is always the best approach to caring for your oral health, but if you find that an emergency has happened you can contact Lake Forest Smiles in Illinois to get immediate help! Contact us if you have questions about how to stay safe while you play your sports.