How To Prevent Common Mouth and Teeth Injuries
Mouth and teeth injuries are very common in children during play while in adults, these injuries can occur during sports. In younger children, these injuries may occur when learning to walk or tripping since they are more prone to falls. In older children and adults, dentists estimate that about 40% of dental injuries occur during sporting activities.
Mouth injuries may involve lips, the tongue, inn
er cheeks, teeth (especially the front teeth), roof of the mouth (the hard or soft palates), tonsils, and the neck. Even the smallest injuries (especially cuts) on the mouth may cause excessive bleeding since there are numerous blood vessels in the head and the neck area.
Teeth injuries are very common during sports or falls. The front teeth are the most commonly affected. A tooth may be knocked out or cracked. Knocked out teeth can be repaired, only if you see a dentist immediately. Minor cracks and chips can also be repaired.
Mouth and teeth injuries are also common during eating. Eating food fast can cause you to bit your inner cheeks, lips, or worse, your tongue. Biting your tongue can be very painful. Teeth injury may occur when trying to crack some types of nuts (such as macadamia) or opening a beer or soft drinks bottles.
Teeth replacements or repairs can be very costly especially if you do not have insurance. If you enjoy sporting activities, it’s important to ensure that your mouth is fully protected to prevent these injuries. Let’s have a look how to prevent common mouth and teeth injuries.
Wear Mouth Guards
Before engaging in sports or other high-risk activities, it’s important that you wear a mouth guard to protect your lips, teeth, and tongue. Get a custom-fit mouth guard from your dentist as it will fit much better compared to those found in stores. However, if you choose to purchase from the store, have a dentist recommend the best one for you.
Wear a Face Cage
If you happen to engage in sports such as hockey, football, and rugby, you must wear a face cage. A face cage protects you face, teeth, and mouth from potential injury/trauma during such sports.
Wear a Helmet
Although
a helmet won’t directly protect your mouth and teeth against injury, it plays a major role in preventing head injuries, such as concussions.
Eat Food Slowly
Learn to chew your food slowly to avoid these injuries. Also, avoid opening bottles with your teeth.
Most dental injuries do not pose a serious risk. Bleeding can be stopped by use of a first-aid kit. Still, it’s important to seek medical assistance in case of large cuts or broken teeth. Hopefully, these tips on how to prevent common mouth and tooth injuries will be of great help.
