Children love sports and outdoor play, and most children will play at least one sport while growing up. Sports are excellent for their development in numerous ways, but there are risks as well - particularly to their oral health. Any sort of contact sport brings increased risk of damage to their mouth or teeth, so it's important to protect their teeth as best you can.
A Mouth Guard Is A Must
If your child is going to play any kind of contact sport, or any sport involving balls or other fast-moving objects, they need extra protection for their teeth. A single impact could do serious damage! Fortunately, sports mouth guards are cheap and easily available, either from your local dentist or from many sports equipment shops.
Be sure your child uses their mouth guard whenever playing. Also, it should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after every use, to prevent bacteria from growing on the piece.
Stay Hydrated Without Sugar
Strenuous exercise can actually promote cavities, due to changes in the mouth's moisture levels and acidity. Proper hydration is necessary to keep their body and their mouths healthy, but stay away from sugary sports drinks. Plain water is truly good enough nearly all the time.
If they must have flavored water, either use sugar-free sports drinks, or else try unsweetened coconut water. It tastes good, and has minerals and electrolytes equivalent to a sports drink.
Know What To Do If They Lose A Tooth
Even with protections, accidents can happen. The good news is that if a tooth is knocked out and the tooth remains intact, it's likely (although not guaranteed) that it can be put back in place.
If this happens:
Retrieve the tooth, and hold it by the crown - NOT the roots. Do not touch the roots.
DO NOT wash the tooth in water. This can potentially harm the roots. Instead, dunk it in cold milk to clean it.
Attempt to put the tooth back into place. It probably won't stick, but if your child can hold it in place during the trip to the dentist, they have a better chance of keeping it.
If the tooth can't be reinserted, store it in a small container of milk.
Get to an emergency dentist ASAP, within an hour or two if possible. Time is truly critical here. The longer the tooth is out of their mouth, the less likely it is to be reattached.
If you have any other questions about protecting your child's teeth, please contact your Plainsboro Dental Care - 609-799-4422, for any dental need!