You might feel like a mouthguard isn’t a good look for you, but the result of not wearing one while you play sports could end up far worse. Besides the pain of having your teeth knocked out, the smile you’ve grown up with will be forever altered. Fortunately, teeth can be fixed, but why tempt fate? Your emergency dentist in Naples Florida wants you to take the steps necessary to avoid the pain, damage and possible loss of teeth by stressing the importance of getting a custom mouth guard and keeping it up to date. The doctors and staff at Galleria Dentistry know that a protected smile is a long lasting one.
An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure
It is estimated that over seven million high school athletes are at risk for some type of accidental contact that could lead to orofacial injury. Studies show that mouthguards protect up to 20,000 injuries per year, which means that there are plenty of opportunities for calamities to happen. Most think of football or hockey as the main sports in need of mouthguard protection, but basketball puts you twice as likely to suffer damage, while soccer leads with three times the rate of injury.
The following are examples of common injuries that athletes are at risk for:
- Knocked out teeth
- Facial bone fractures
- Permanent jaw joint injury
- Lip, cheek and chin cuts
- Concussions
- Unconsciousness
Even with the best protection methods in place, sometimes accidents still happen. If you do experience the trauma of a tooth being knocked out, there is hope to save the tooth if you act quickly and properly.
Steps To Save a Tooth
Remember to remain calm and act quickly so that your doctors at Galleria Dentistry can help you get the best results. Here are five simple tips to save your tooth:
- Pick up the tooth by the crown — never the root. Avoiding the opening will help injury to the root.
- If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it off with a spray of water. Never use soap or chemicals, scrub it or try to dry it, and do not place it in a tissue or cloth.
- If possible, reposition the tooth back into the socket. To reinsert, carefully place the tooth into the socket or hold the tooth above the socket and close the mouth slowly. Hold the tooth in place or gently bite down on it.
- The tooth must be kept moist at all times. If unable to replace into the socket, put it into a glass of milk or some water, preferably with a pinch of salt. Lastly, simply place the tooth in the mouth next to the cheek.
- See your doctor as soon as possible. A tooth can sometimes be saved even if it’s been outside the mouth for more than hour, but your chances are greatly improved by acting as swiftly as possible.
Any Questions?
Your dentist in Naples, FL urges you to prevent sports injuries by taking steps to get your own custom mouthguard. If you have questions or would like a consultation, please call us today.