A kid-friendly dentist is an excellent resource, especially when it comes to protecting a child’s oral health and development. Participating in sports is a good way for kids to exercise and socialize with other children. As interesting as this is, children are more prone to sports-related injuries. The best thing one can do as a parent is to provide preventive care for children when they play sports. The cost of undergoing treatment for a damaged or lost tooth is way more than preventive options that a kid-friendly dentist can offer.
The following are options a kid-friendly dentist will recommend for protecting a child’s teeth during sports.
Wearing a headgear set or a helmet on the court or field can prevent injuries. Headgears shield more than just the child's head, especially if it has a faceguard. It can prevent broken or knocked-out teeth. A face shield can also protect the delicate bones around the nose, jaw and eyes from damage. A hard hit from hockey pucks, basketball or racquetballs can cause extensive facial damages. Even if the headgear has no front face guard, it will still decrease the physical impact that may force the child’s teeth against each other enough to chip them.
Children who play contact sports like soccer or swim may need to protect their face and mouth from injuries. Sports like football, baseball and lacrosse make mouthguards compulsory to reduce the risk of accidents and injury. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation (NYSSF), a child is 60 times more prone to a sports injury without a mouthguard. Yet, many parents do not provide their children with a mouthguard during organized sports.
Although sports equipment is often costly, mouthguards have always been an affordable protective device to prevent a child from damaging a tooth. They are available in local sports stores as a one-size-fits-all. However, it is strongly recommended to get one from a kid-friendly dentist. A custom-made mouthguard provides better protection and remains a significantly less expensive alternative to replacing or repairing a damaged tooth.
Aside from the protection, parents should encourage their kids to play safely to avoid injury and reiterate good sportsmanship to stop them from playing aggressively, which may lead to injury. Knowing the rules and risks is an effective way to prevent sports injuries.
The environment the child plays in can also determine the risks they are exposed to during sports. Parents and guardians need to provide a safe environment for the child’s game. If bruises or tooth damages do happen, they need to contact a kid-friendly dentist immediately for emergency dental care.
To keep a child injury-free while playing sports, a kid-friendly dentist advises parents, coaches and athletes to stay proactive throughout the game. The precautions above will help keep the child safe during sports so parents can rest easy. If there are any additional questions, contact the dental office to book an appointment.
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