Tips on Preventing Mouth and Tooth Injuries

A look at the risk of mouth and tooth injuries, and how to prevent them.

At some point in our lives we all get injured in some way or another. Unless we live our lives wrapped up in cotton

wool, we are likely to suffer some bumps and scrapes; it’s a fact of life. Mouth and tooth injuries are highly likely at least

once during a lifetime. Although preventable, most of us will get a bruising in this area as well. The question is how bad and how quickly will we recover?

There are a few types of people that are vulnerable to mouth and tooth injuries. One is actually toddlers. The other is those that are athletic. Toddlers start pushing their boundaries when they attempt walking for the first time. Most toddlers don’t get this the first time so they fall. Learning to walk is a series

of falls and new attempts until they build the muscles and learn a sense of balance. Many times when toddlers fall when trying to walk, they fall foreword and hit their faces. This can cause mouth and tooth injuries. Some toddlers even knock teeth out while doing this. This usually isn’t a problem unless the tooth actually breaks. Then it needs to be seen by a dentist. If it falls out then not to worry. These are the baby teeth and they will grow back.

The other particularly vulnerable group is athletes. Certain sports are highly vulnerable to jaw, mouth and tooth injuries. Most contact sports as well as certain positions in baseball can leave this part of the body very vulnerable to knocks, cracks and breaks.

Preventing mouth and tooth injuries is possible. Although protecting someone from them completely is impossible, it is possible to reduce the number and their severity. Toddlers need to learn to walk and the

only way they are going to learn is to do it. They are going to fall from time to time but for the most part they will be fine. There are a few things that parents can do to limit mouth and tooth injuries. Monitor the children. Make sure they are not walking near stairways. Make sure they have nothing in their mouths while they are walking and try to keep them on carpeted areas. This will greatly reduce the chances of a serious and painful injury.

Athletes have several options to keep that face looking good and all of the teeth intact. One of the easiest items to come by is a mouth guard. These help cushion blows in sports such as boxing and wrestling. They are good for protecting teeth and can even help in preventing concussions. To prevent trauma to the face, a face cage is highly recommended. These are most commonly used by baseball catchers and hockey goalies. Hockey pucks and baseballs reach speeds up to 100 miles and hour. If these made contact with the face or the jaw it could cause serious mouth andtooth injuries. Face cages stop this from happening by shielding the face against a serious blow. Finally, helmets are another good protective measure. They do not protect the teeth and mouth directly, however they keep the head injury free.

It is important to protect against mouth and tooth injuries. Aside from the obvious, that they are painful they can cause greater problems later on in life. Broken teeth may not seem like anything to worry about at the moment. Especially if it isn’t causing any immediate pain. However, they are a leading cause of tooth decay and gum disease. Bacteria can get in through the broken areas can cause some serious damage. Best to prevent them as best as possible.

Finally, for those that have taken a few fast balls to the head and suffered the consequences, no need to worry. Broken teeth can be repaired. Even teeth that have been knocked completely out can be replaced with all of the new dental technology. If you loose a tooth within your activity it is best to get it sorted straight away. Those teeth that are replaced within 1 hour of being knocked out stand the greatest chance of staying intact.

To a certain extent, mouth and tooth injuries are a fact of life. Toddlers learning to walk are eventually going to fall. There are things you can do as a parent to lessen the chances but they are still likely to injure themselves slightly. Athletes have far more options available to them. By wearing protective equipment the chances of sustaining a serious mouth or tooth injury are greatly reduced. However, if it does happen best to get it fixed as soon as possible. The chances of a full recovery are greater and future problems much less.