mouthguards

April marks National Facial Protection Month

April 1st, 2013

With spring here, many children, teens and adults will once again pick up the ball, bring the bat out of seasonal retirement, and lace up their cleats to hit the fields for the return of spring sports! April, which is only a few days away, is National Facial Protection Month, and during this time, we urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. If you play sports and are undergoing orthodontic treatment, it’s important that you consult us for special precautions, such as wearing a mouth guard. A protective mouth guard is advised for playing spring sports such as baseball, soccer, lacrosse and others. Be sure, however, to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements we are trying to achieve.

In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, please schedule an appointment with our office. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment.

The Importance of Wearing Mouthguards

January 18th, 2013

With winter sports underway, we wanted to remind our patients about the importance of wearing a mouth guard while you’re on the court or the field. Here are some frequent questions we hear from our patients about mouth guards.

Q: What are mouth guards?

A: Mouth guards are a flexible, removable device made of soft plastic, and are adapted to fit comfortably to the shape of the upper teeth.

Q: Why are mouth guards so important?

A: Mouth guards protect not just the teeth, but the lips, cheeks, and tongue, and help protect athletes from head and neck injuries, as well as concussions and jaw fractures. Increasingly, organized sports are requiring mouth guards to prevent injury to their athletes and research shows us that most oral injuries occur when athletes are not wearing mouth protection.

Q: When should I wear my mouth guard?

A: Whenever you are in an activity with a risk of falls or of head contact with other players or equipment. This includes football, baseball, basketball, soccer, wrestling, hockey, and even gymnastics.

Q: How do I choose a mouth guard that is right for me?

A: We encourage you to choose a mouth guard that you can wear comfortably. You can select from several options in mouth guards. First, preformed or “boil-to-fit” mouth guards are found in sports stores. Otherwise, we can talk about your options for a custom mouthguard, which will be more comfortable to wear, and more effective in preventing injuries this winter. Please give us a call if you have any other questions or ask us on Facebook!

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