Guard your teeth during sports

Mouth guards aren’t just for the collegiate or professional football player. While losing a tooth might not be the first thing you think about when you lace up your high tops or jump on your bicycle, for anyone who has suffered a severe blow to the jaw, it is an experience they won’t soon forget.

First there is the immediate pain, and depending on the damage done, it can be an injury that requires numerous dental appointments and several thousand dollars to repair. Over the course of an individual’s life, one lost tooth can cost an estimated $10,000-$15,000.

A properly fitted mouth guard is the best protection against such injuries. Customized and manufactured by a dentist, the relatively inexpensive device reduces the risk of dental trauma by 20 to 40 percent. According to the Academy for Sports Dentistry, not only do the major contact sports, such as boxing, football and martial arts, require properly fitted mouth guards, but also less risky activities including basketball, bicycle riding, roller blading, wrestling, surfing and skateboarding.

Despite the fact that mouth guards have been proven effective in preventing dental trauma, most athletes refrain from wearing the device—many claim that it inhibits breathing and talking—and few sports organizations require them as mandatory equipment. One contested benefit of mouth guards is their ability to minimize concussion. Advocates maintain that the device absorbs the force of upward blows to the jaw, reducing trauma to the brain.

In the event of a knocked-out tooth, a quick and informed reaction is key. The tooth should be immediately retrieved. When picking it up, hold it by the crown or enamel portion, not the root, which can be easily damaged. If dirty, it should be rinsed gently, preferably with cold, whole milk or, if unavailable, water. The tooth should not be stored in water under any circumstances because it will damage the root surface. After cleaning, the tooth should be reinserted into place, within five minutes for best results. Research shows that replacing the tooth quickly maximizes the chances the tooth will remain viable. However, if stored in whole milk or in a biophosphonate—a medium specially formulated to preserve root tissue—a tooth can still be reinserted up to one hour after being dislodged.

In the case of children, primary teeth should not be replaced, as this may damage tooth buds of emerging permanent teeth in the gum tissue. You should also ensure you see your dentist as soon as possible in order to ensure you do not have a broken jaw or other possible injuries.

Source:Health News, USC School of Dentistry.