It’s springtime! Which means warmer weather and more outdoor activities for our children. With that comes the increased risk of dental and orofacial injuries.
The month of April is designated “National Facial Protection Month” by the American Dental Association, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Association of Orthodontists, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and American Academy of Pediatrics. The goal is to raise awareness among parents, coaches, and children about sports-related injuries and proper protective gear to prevent such injuries from occurring.
Let’s look at some facts:
- From 1990-2003, it is estimated that 22,000 dental injuries occurred each year in children under 18. These injuries add up to numerous days missed from school and astonishing costs.
- Males are more likely to suffer dental injuries than females.
- Baseball and basketball have the highest incidence of sports-related injuries in children aged 7-17.
- Behavioral risk factors, such as hyperactivity, significantly increase the risk of dental/facial injury.
- Frequency of dental injuries is significantly higher in children with flared upper incisors and inadequate lip coverage. Ask your pediatric dentist if early orthodontic intervention can be beneficial for your child and decrease their risk of trauma.
- Even activities like bike riding, skating, riding a scooter, and jumping on a trampoline can cause orofacial injuries.
Dental and orofacial injuries can include fractured teeth or jaws, knocked-out teeth, and lacerations to the soft tissues like lips and gums. In many cases, these traumatic injuries can be prevented by wearing the appropriate facial protection, including a mouth guard.
There are several different types of mouth guards. Ask your pediatric dentist which one is right for your child.
- Custom-fabricated mouth guards are made by your dentist; an impression is taken of your child’s mouth, and a mouth guard is fit to a model of your child’s teeth. These have an excellent fit, but might not be right for a child who is actively losing baby teeth and getting new permanent teeth.
- Mouth-formed, or “boil-and-bite” mouth guards, are available in most sporting good stores. The material is heated up in the water and adapts to your child’s teeth. These may be the most practical for most children.
- Stock mouth guards are “one size fits all” and can be purchased at most stores. These tend to be the least comfortable and maybe the least protective.
So what can you do? Talk to your child’s pediatric dentist about which mouth guard is right for them. Help advocate for your child by encouraging their coach to require mouth guards. Make wearing a mouth guard fun by letting your child choose one in their favorite color and having their friends wear one, too.
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