Did you know……
• More than 5 million teeth will be knocked out each year in sports-related trauma?
• Over 30% of all high school athletes report a dental injury at least once?
• Over 40% of all injuries that a properly fitted mouthguard could have prevented occurred in baseball and basketball?
• An estimated 300,000 sports-related traumatic brain injuries of mild to moderate severity occur in the U.S. each year?
• There is significant evidence mounting that properly fitted mouthguards can reduce the occurrence and severity of concussions?
There are many sports that involve intentional and non-intentional blows to the head, and no one can predict when they will happen. Concussions can occur when teeth are clenched or knocked together, which can happen with any hit to the chin or face. A considerable amount of force from a hit is transferred through the jaw and joint, then into the base of the skull.
People should wear a mouth guard whenever they are involved in an activity with a risk of falls or of head contact with other players or equipment. This includes football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding, even gymnastics. We usually think of football and hockey as the most dangerous sports for teeth, but nearly half of all sports-related mouth injuries occur in basketball and baseball.
Important:
If you knock-out a tooth and it is an adult (or permanent) tooth immediately put it back in its place (its socket). If this is not possible, or if there’s a chance that the tooth might be swallowed, put it in a container of cold milk. Contact your dental health professional right away. If it is after hours you can call the emergency dental number 250-741-3365.
