It is estimated that 15 million children participate in sports and recreational activities each year throughout the United States. Of that 15 million, 1.5 million children suffer from mouth related injuries. When preparing for participation and getting all of the gear together that your child needs for her/his particular sport, it is vital that parents remember that a mouth guard is an essential piece of equipment.
Sports participation is a great way for youth and adolescents to develop strong social skills, cooperation, motor skills, conflict resolution, and a strong work ethic. While these are excellent skills to learn, it is also important for parents to remember that safety is the most important thing to remember.
At Bear Valley Dental Care, we understand how important it is for parents to protect their child’s smile during sports and extracurricular activities. We also understand that while head and neck injuries are incredibly scary, oral injuries are also scary and extremely expensive to repair. Prevention is the most important step that you can take to protect your child’s teeth, smile, and entire mouth. Benjamin Franklin’s wise words ring as true today as they did 300 years ago: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Protective mouthguards are a necessary piece of equipment for any child who participates in a contact sport. Whether contact is made person-to-person or with another piece of equipment, a mouthguard can help protect the teeth. Flying balls, flying elbows, swinging bats, swinging hockey sticks, and more can come into contact with your child’s mouth and cause serious, sometimes permanent, injury. By protecting your child’s smile, you are also protecting their confidence, health, and future.
Mouthguards are relatively inexpensive pieces of equipment that do a lot to protect the teeth. Parents regularly think of uniforms, bats, shoes, and helmets as standard pieces of equipment, but parents need to also remember that a mouthguard is a vital piece of equipment as well. While a mouth guard may take some getting used to, it is well worth it to protect your child’s smile. Contact Bear Valley Dental Care today to learn more about keeping your child’s smile healthy and protected for life.