Keep Your Teeth: Wear the Mouthguard
February is Dental Health Month, and it also means that spring intramural teams are getting ready for the season! Here’s a friendly reminder from UHC Dental Clinic about the importance of mouthguards…
One third of all dental injuries are linked to sports-related activities. And according to the American Dental Association, an athlete is 60 times more likely to have an injury to the teeth or mouth when NOT wearing an athletic mouthguard. In fact, the Academy of General Dentistry estimates that mouthguards prevent more than 200,000 injuries each year.
A mouthguard is designed to buffer the mouth and teeth from trauma during activities. It can substantially reduce the type of injury affecting the soft tissues — such as the lips and gum tissues surrounding the teeth. Using a mouthguard can also prevent damage to braces or other orthodontic work, as well as prevent mouth cuts, jaw injuries and tooth damage.
All types of mouthguards are effective at protecting teeth and the mouth, but a custom made mouthguard from your dentist is designed to offer the most comfort which encourages use.
A custom-fitted mouthguard requires a visit to the dentist who makes precise models of the teeth upon which the guard is made, either by the dentist or a dental lab. This produces the best fit and highest level of protection.
Perhaps one of the greatest motivators to wear a mouthguard is to actually keep all of your teeth! Knocked-out teeth (avulsed teeth) happen…especially if your teeth are left unprotected. But they can be treated. And the sooner you can get to your dentist’s office, the better!
#HealthyDawg Hint: Avulsed teeth with the highest chances of being saved are those seen by the dentist and returned to their socket within one hour of being knocked out. If a tooth has been knocked out, gently rinse any debris from the root and attempt to place it back into the socket. If that’s not possible, hold it in the mouth on the way to the dentist.
The UHC Dental Clinic offers custom-fitted mouthguards! Call 706.542.8700 to schedule an appointment for yours!
For more information on the UHC Dental Clinic, click here.