The issue from the Journal of the American Dental Association once revealed that 13-39% of injuries people retain to their teeth tend to be from some form of sports. Athletes are especially vulnerable to dental injuries from sports. About half of the children who are actively into sports face dental injury before they reach graduation age.
Presently, the National Federation of State High School Associations mandates mouthguards for only five kinds of sports. These are lacrosse, ice hockey, wrestling, football, and field hockey.
What are the dental Injuries caused by sports?
Even with proper protective gears, there are still chances of dental injuries in high contact sports. Let’s take a look at them.
- Avulsed teeth– it’s the kind of injury where the tooth is completely unhinged from its socket. In this case, dental implants happen to be the best possible option.
- Fractured roots– Fractured roots can be caused by an unexpected impact on one’s jaws. It is possible for the person to not notice the damage to their tooth because, with fractured roots, the crown remains in good condition at first. The problem begins at the root level and works its way up. If it’s not treated, it could lead to pain and infection, and even tooth loss in severe cases. Root canal therapy could be the possible treatment for it.
- Cracked tooth– A cracked tooth is different from a fractured tooth in the sense, it doesn’t begin at the root level but is close to it. A cracked tooth might feel mildly uncomfortable, or the person could be going through deep pain. It has to be treated as soon as possible.
- Tooth Intrusion– Truth intrusion is when your teeth actually back up against the jawbone due to impact. This can destroy the tooth pulp and shorten the roots. If not treated in time, tooth loss is a possibility.
How To Prevent Dental Injuries?
To prevent dental injuries, there are two items you can rely on.
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Mouthguards
According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, players without mouthguards have 60 times more chances of damaging their teeth during an intense sports event. Therefore, it is crucial to have mouthguards on during games where people come in high-impact contact with others or involve bats and balls. There are three kinds of mouthguards. One is custom-made, which is made specifically for your mouth. One is stock, which might not have the best fit but are available to wear out of the package. Then, there is the boil-and-bite, which you have to fit into your mouth by biting it.
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Helmets
In addition to wearing mouthguards, a good, fit helmet provides another layer of protection. You cover your mouth from all sides this way. While headgear is a given for hockey and football, you should wear helmets regardless of the chance of injury to your face.
Final Thoughts
The only way to prevent dental injury if you are into sports is to don the protective gears and have them fit your mouth and head shape. If your teeth come in contact with something, make it a point to immediately go to the dental doctor to check out any possible damage.
