Spring is in full swing which means more time outdoors! As baseball and soccer take the center stage in your child’s life, you need to ensure that falls and collisions don’t do any major damage. Keep your child’s teeth safe from flying baseballs and footballs with the following precautionary measures and keep the fun going:

1. Use the Right Protective Equipment

It is all fun and games until somebody breaks a tooth, right? Sports are entertaining only when your child is fully prepared with proper equipment especially when playing contact sports. Injuries and falls can happen anytime so protect your child’s teeth with the right protective gear. Wearing face masks, shoulder pads, chest protectors and gloves when playing rugby, soccer, basketball, football, baseball and hockey may feel like a hindrance to your child initially but they efficiently prevent tooth fracture, painful extrusions and splitting of the lips.

2. Wear a Sports Teeth Guard

A sports teeth guard is designed to seamlessly fit along your child’s teeth and gum line for protection in case of a collision. Easily available at sports stores, you can also have your dentist customize the teeth guard to perfectly fit the size and shape of your child’s teeth.

3. Put on a Helmet

Helmets not only protect your child’s skull from accidents and concussions but also guard the mouth from injuries. Wearing helmets when biking, skateboarding, and playing other speed and impact sports will reduce the chances of fractured tooth and oral trauma.

4. Use Sports Eyewear

Even non contact sports can result in severe eye injuries. Sports eyewear offers ultimate protection against fast moving bats, balls, racquets, jabs and elbows.

5. Follow the Rules

Injuries should not keep your child from pursuing his/her favorite sport but ensuring their safety during practice sessions is your responsibility. No parent would like to see their child venture into the football field from the wrong end and get tackled by a sea of players. Making sure that your child has a complete understanding of the rules and regulations before playing any sport will greatly reduce the risk of injury.

6. Eat Superpower Foods for Strong Teeth and Healthy Bones

A healthy diet that is rich in proteins, fibers and dairy will keep your child’s teeth strong and bones healthy.  Strawberry, kiwis, nuts, seeds, veggies, celery and fibrous foods are essential for growing children who actively participate in sports.

7. Practice Good Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is imperative to the health and safety of your child’s teeth. Getting your child into the habit of brushing twice a day and flossing regularly will ensure proper oral protection both on the field and off the field. It is also a good idea to have your child visit the dentist for removal of plaque and professional cleaning.

While recreational and school sports help children develop discipline, leadership qualities and learn social skills, they are also a major cause of serious injuries that often leave children with missing teeth. Taking your child to the dentist twice a year is the best way to keep your child’s teeth in top condition and prevent dental problems.

Joshua Hong DDS is here to help you tackle your child’s every dental problem, any sports season. Call us today at 623-925-8822 for a caring dental appointment that helps your little heroes win every battle – whether it is against the sugar bugs or school players.

Being able to chew your food so digestion happens effectively is crucial for your body to absorb nutrients. For that, you need your teeth!

Being able to talk right, to pronounce words correctly so that others can understand you is absolutely essential. For that, you need your teeth!

Being able to smile at someone – be it your crush, your colleague, your child or anyone, really makes you feel good. For that, you need teeth!

Being healthy and avoiding unwanted diseases is crucial. For that also, you need teeth!

So, you get the point. Your teeth are very important for your overall health and well-being. Taking better care of your teeth doesn’t only mean routinely maintaining oral hygiene. It also requires a deeper understanding of the impact that your various routine activities have on your teeth and gums.

Here are some activities and habits that can be detrimental to your oral health:

• Unconsciously Acquired Habits
  Thumb sucking is usually attributed to children. But, it is also seen in quite a few adults. Persistence of this habit exposes your mouth to harmful germs and bacteria from your hand, and can also lead to misaligned teeth. This may in turn affect your ability to chew and speak.

  Clenching and grinding of teeth is another potentially harmful habit. Some may grind their teeth while asleep, and others may unconsciously do so when under stress, in deep thought or as a nervous tick. Continuous grinding will put stress on the teeth and jaws, and wear down the enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to cracks and breakages.

  The best way to get rid of such habits is to consciously redirect your attention and focus towards non-intrusive activities. However, in severe cases, you should consult your dentist about preventative measures.

• Using Teeth as Tools
  Teeth have specific functions. When they are utilized for activities that they are not meant for, it often results in unwanted hassles.

  Chewing on ice is something a lot of us do. It not only puts pressure on your teeth, but also exposes them to an unsuitable cold temperature.

  Also, using your teeth instead of a bottle opener, scissors or pliers, exerts extra pressure which may loosen your teeth or result in cracked enamel. Similarly, nail biting due to stress or unavailability of a nail cutter leads to wear and tear of the teeth, and exposes your mouth to harmful and infection-causing microbes.

• Unhealthy Lifestyle Choices
  You already know that tobacco consumption is extremely harmful for your entire body including your teeth. Regular consumption does more damage than leaving you with just a permanent bad breath and discolored teeth. It seriously increases your chances of contracting mouth cancer. The best way to avoid such adverse health conditions is to immediately quit consuming tobacco in any form and contact your dentist for reversing the damage such as spotted teeth. Getting a piercing in or around your mouth is another harmful lifestyle choice that has long lasting impacts. It not only increases the risk of sores and lesions but also the chances of mouth infections and gum disease. They are known to disrupt the alignment of your teeth.

  Other unhealthy habits include not cleansing your mouth after meals and consuming sugary foods and liquids. It is essential to rinse mouth after every meal to avoid the risks of cavities due to food residue.

  Mostly damage due to such habits is not immediately visible and requires a professional assessment. Therefore, it is important to regularly schedule oral examinations with your dentist.  Contact us now at Joshua Hong DDS in Goodyear AZ, and we can guide you better.