Any time you're engaged in an activity or sport where your face can come in contact with something hard-another player, a ball, the pavement, or a hard object-it's time to be wearing a mouthguard! NOTE- This includes practice or pick-up games as well.
Mouth guards can help prevent injury to your jaw, mouth and teeth. They cost a lot less than the cost to repair an injured jaw or tooth.
In 1999, a sports medicine study was undertaken at UNC where athletic trainers from 50 division 1 men's basketball programs were asked to report data on dental injuries and concussions. Only 13 percent of the players wore mouth guards, and those not wearing mouth guards were 6 times as likely to incur significant injuries.
Some injuries need immediate attention-such as
1. If there was a concussion or loss of consciousness- go to the hospital first
2. If a tooth is knocked out -put it in a plastic bag with milk or with the injured person's own saliva and get to a dentist
3. If a tooth is moved from it's original position try to have the injured person bite down, and get to a dentist
4. If a tooth was chipped it may be sensitive to touch or cold- see a dentist within 12 hrs to assess the situation
Mouthguards can be designed to fit over your braces and give you the protection you need. If you are on a Dover or Kent County sports team, you can join Dr. Steckel's Teeth Straightening Team and protect that precious smile with a mouth guard. Or, you can always try another type of protection:
