HOW TO AVOID SPORTS DENTAL INJURIES DURING THE SUMMER

The risk of getting injured while playing a sport is just one of those things that comes with the territory. But most serious sports dental injuries are completely avoidable if you know how to protect yourself properly. Whether you’re out playing on your neighborhood kickball team or getting in a few laps at the pool, with proper equipment and a little precaution you can always keep your smile protected. Follow these helpful tips from the team at Biltmore Commons Dental Care to keep your smile happy and healthy this summer!

EASY TIPS FOR AVOIDING SPORTS DENTAL INJURIES THIS SUMMER

GROUP CONTACT SPORTS

Summertime is perfect for getting outdoors and enjoying a game of ball with your friends and family. Whether you play on a sponsored team or you’re just out at the park for a day full of fun, group contact sports often result in dental injuries. While many of these sports do not specifically call for the use of mouth guards or facial masks, you can greatly decrease your chances of chipping a tooth, cracking a tooth, loosing a tooth or doing serious damage to your jaw when you wear one of these protective pieces of sports equipment.

MOUTH GUARDS

If you are serious about your sport and expect to be playing it with any regularity, it’s a good idea to get fitted for a mouth guard at the dentist’s office. With a custom-made mouth guard from your dentist you can help protect your teeth, tongue and your lips from injury while you’re out on the field. While ready made mouth guards can be found at your local pharmacy or sporting goods store, they don’t fit nearly as well as a custom-fit mouth guard —so be sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist today.

HELMETS

Helmets are another piece of equipment that can easily help protect your smile from sports dental injuries. If you’re playing a sport that requires a lot of speed and possible impact with other players, you should consider wearing a helmet. Helmets are not only ideal for protecting your skull but they can help you avoid or decrease the damage done to your mouth upon impact with another object. Be sure to wear a helmet if you’re out playing football, field hockey, roller skating or riding your bike this summer.

WATER SPORTS

With the temperature rising this summer, one of the best ways to cool down and get in a great low-impact cardio workout is to hit the pool. Whether you’re training this summer by swimming laps or you’re working on your diving skills, there are several ways you could end up doing damage to your teeth if you aren’t protected properly.

PREVENT STAINED TEETH

Studies show that when you swim 6 or more hours per week you increase your chances for seeing yellowish or brown staining on your teeth —do to the chemicals used in chlorinated pools. While this is mostly a cosmetic issue, it can still be a negative experience for dedicated swimmers. Do your best to prevent this issue by wearing your mouth guard in the pool and sticking to your regular flossing and brushing routine closely all season long. If you do notice and staining on your teeth, rest easy knowing that the Biltmore Commons Dental Care team can safely remove these stains with a professional dental cleaning.

DIVING RELATED INJURIES

There are a number of different sports dental injuries associated with scuba diving including gum tissue problems, tooth pain and jaw joint pain. Commonly referred to as “diver’s mouth syndrome”, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your dentist to make sure your dental health is at it’s best before diving in the water.

HAVE FUN AND KEEP A HEALTHY SMILE THIS SUMMER

At Biltmore Commons Dental Care, we want the best for all of our patients. Keep your smile protected from injury this summer and schedule an appointment for a custom mouth guard or a dental wellness checkup today. Visit us online for more information on the services we offer and be sure to check out our blog for great tips on how you can keep your smile healthy and bright all year long.