Summer is a great time for Hendricks County kids to get outside and play – whether that’s through organized sports, pick-up games with friends or just having fun on their own. But did you know that summer activities can increase your child’s risk of dental injuries?
Sports activities cause up to 39% of all children’s dental injuries per studies. Most of these injuries affect the upper front teeth, upper lip and jaw.
Some of the sports that Hendricks County youth participate in that may cause dental injuries include:
- Swimming – Tooth chips or factures can happen: when your child surfaces from the water, hitting the hard pool edge; another swimmer accidentally hits your child in the mouth with their elbow; your child gets hit in the face by a ball or pool toy; or your child slips and falls while running around the pool area..
- Baseball/softball – Dental injuries can occur when the youth gets hit in the face by a ball or a bat that’s flung by another player. Also, injuries can occur as your child slides into base and the baseman attempts to tag them out.
- Biking – Your child may hit an obstacle and lose control of their bike, causing them to fall and hit the handlebars or the ground with their face. Also, injuries can happen when your child attempts and fails to perform stunts with their bike.
- Skateboarding – Dental chips and fractures can occur when your child falls and hits their mouth while attempting to do tricks with their skateboard.
- At-home trampoline bouncing – Injuries can occur when your child attempts to do a flip or somersault and falls. Your child may hit their face against the metal rim of the trampoline or the ground. Also, injuries can happen when several children bounce on a trampoline at the same time and into each other.
Some things you can do to protect your children from dental injuries are:
- Encourage your children to wear helmets whenever they’re playing organized or recreational sports – especially helmets with face guards.
- Discourage your children from bouncing on at-home trampolines, even if they’re being supervised. Unfortunately, parental supervision can’t prevent injuries from occurring. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics warns against all recreational trampoline use.
- Have your children wear properly fitted mouth guards while participating in any organized or recreational sport. A mouth guard is a soft plastic device that covers your child’s teeth and gums to prevent injuries.
While mouth guards can be purchased in stores, a custom-made mouth guard offers the best protection against dental injuries. Schedule an appointment with Danville Family Dentistry in Hendricks County to have your child fitted for a mouth guard today!
(317) 745-4400
