Picture1 23May2016

Picture1 23May2016

Summer is here which means outdoor fun and possibly some injuries involving your child’s mouth and/or teeth. Here are some good reminders for parents, coaches and child athletes about the importance of wearing facial protective gear while engaging in recreational and organized sports.

It has been estimated that sports accidents account for as much as 39% of dental injuries in kids and are usually caused by direct contact from a puck, ball, other players, or similar objects. By following simple safety practices, you can help limit the risk of adolescents suffering from sports related injury. Here are a few tips that your Centennial & Parker, CO pediatric dentist personally recommends:

Always Wear A Helmet For Contact Sports
Your brain is, of course, the most important thing to protect when it comes to contact sports. A helmet can absorb impacts that would otherwise jar your skull, potentially leading to serious health problems. Helmets, depending on their size, can also effectively shield your TMJ (temporomandibular joint) from injury that could require dental treatment, and a helmet with a face guard, similar to those used in American football, can protect your mouth/teeth from direct contact that may cause dental injury.

Never Forget Your Mouth Guard
Standard mouth guards are readily available and easily obtainable, yet can provide significant protection to the teeth and mouth when a child engages in contact sports while being significantly cheaper than the cost of repairing injury. Your Centennial & Parker pediatric dentist can also create a custom mouth guard for you to wear during sport activity.

Protective Goggles Are Your Friend
The eyes are easily the most vulnerable area on the face due to them not having any protective bone cover. Save your eyes by always wearing protective eyewear during contact sports.

For The Rest of Your Face: Face Shields
Face shields are on the rise in popularity. You can now see multiple prominent NBA players who have elected to wear face shields during games rather than run the risk of suffering from injury. This shield covers the entire face, protecting the delicate facial bones from contact.

Thank you for reading Colorado Kids Pediatric Dentistry’s recommendations on how to protect your child’s face from injury. If you have any further questions about how to avoid dental injury while participating in sports, or would like to schedule an appointment, feel free to contact us and one of our friendly staff will be happy to assist you.

Colorado Kids Pediatric Dentistry is Douglas County’s most comprehensive children’s dental facility. We are committed to providing a positive experience to each child with a wide range of pediatric dental services. If you reside in the Littleton, Centennial, Parker, Castle Pines, or Highlands Ranch areas, we invite you to visit the nearest office Highlands Ranch or Lone Tree dental offices and find out just what we can do for you!

Visit http://highlandsranch.macaronikid.com/ for a list of fun summer activities.