Preventative dental care includes more than the obvious. Obviously brushing and flossing should be done everyday in order to prevent cavities and to promote gum health. Paying regular visits to the dentist for cleaning and check-up is also a must. With all that said, dentists across America witness increasingly high summer emergency dental services for sports-related dental injuries. And sadly, the vast majority of them could have been prevented.
Youth football, baseball, and basketball are the most common source of dental injury, but we find any racquet sport introduces a degree of dental injury risk. Racquetball is increasingly popular with youth and parents should take note of the dangers that swinging racquets introduce to both the eyes and teeth of your young athletes. Field hockey, soccer, softball, and bowling all introduce risk to the face and teeth. OK, maybe not bowling, but that got your attention, right? All kidding aside, there is nothing we'd rather see than fewer children and young adults being treated for avoidable dental emergencies.
The dental care professionals throughout Hampton, VA strongly encourage all young athletes (and the parents of athletes) to emphasize and prioritize wearing mouth guards when playing sports. Whether you are a serious athlete or “weekend” sports buff, make it a habit to wear mouthguards as this simple practice all but guarantees the safety of your teeth and gums.
For more tips on how to maintain healthy gums and strong teeth, contact Oyster Point Dentistry.
