How Mouth Guards Protect Teeth During Fall Sports

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Cool Fall weather is perfect for outdoor sports.  Do you kids play on any school teams?  Make sure that they are wearing mouth guards while they play!  Mouth guards help prevent dental injuries and keep tiny teeth safe.

What is a mouth guard?
Mouth guards are coverings worn directly over your child's teeth (see image).  They protect teeth while kids play sports and protect against sports-related injuries.

When should your child wear their mouth guard?
Kids should wear mouth guards whenever they are playing a contact sport or a sport that might pose injury to their mouth.  These sports include, but are not limited to:

• Football
• Boxing
• Soccer
• Ice Hockey
• Basketball
• Lacrosse
• Field Hockey
• Skateboarding
• Mountain Biking
• Gymnastics

Learn more about mouth guards and how you can protect your child's teeth at our office!  Call 516-222-5100 to schedule your appointment at our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to schedule your appointment at our Glen Cove office.  

You can also visit our website to learn more about our practices.  Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

Preventing Spring Sports Injuries with Mouth Guards

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

#DidYouKnow that 60% of facial injuries occur during sports practice?  If your child is participating in a spring sport at school this year, it's important that they keep their teeth protected.  
Celebrate National Facial Protection Month by providing your child with a mouth guard that keeps their smiles protected while they play the sports that they love!

Types of Mouth Guards:

• Stock Mouth Guards - These inexpensive mouth guards come pre-formed and ready to wear.  While they are convenient and affordable, your child might find the fit to be a little uncomfortable.  
• Boil and Bite Mouth Guards - These mouth guards are softened in water and then inserted to adapt to the shape of the mouth.
• Custom-Fitted Mouth Guards - Custom mouth guards are designed to fit your child's smile.  They are perfect for those that find one size fits all options to be uncomfortable.  Due to their fit, custom mouth guards are also the best at preventing facial injuries.

Read more about the importance of Mouth Guards and how they can help protect your child from facial injuries here.  

Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.  Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

April is National Facial Protection Month!

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

April is National Facial Protection Month!  As your kids enjoy the beautiful spring weather and get ready to participate in outdoor activities, don't forget to protect their teeth!  Any time when kids are engaged in a contact sport, it's important to wear a mouth guard.

Here are a few sports that kids should wear mouth guards during.

Sports with Mouth Guards:

• Weightlifting
• Hockey
• Basketball
• Soccer
• Football
• Cheerleading
• Gymnastics
• Baseball
• Softball
• Tennis
• Karate

These are just a few of the contact sports that kids should be wearing mouth guards while they play.  Mouth guards help reduce the risk of knocking out a tooth or breaking a jaw in any sport where kids come into contact with something hard - whether it be another player, a ball, or the pavement.

If you want to schedule a spring cleaning and exam for your kids, contact our office.  Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.  Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check out our YouTube channel!

April is National Facial Protection Month

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove

Garden City:516-222-5100

Glen Cove: 516-759-7000

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

National Facial Protection Month brings awareness to the head, mouth and facial injuries that often result from sports-related accidents each spring.  With outdoor spring sports just around the corner, we want to remind parents and kids to play safely.  We recommend that all kids who play contact sports wear mouth guards to keep their faces protected.  

How do you know if your kid needs a mouth guard? 

Kids should wear mouth guards when playing:

• Hockey
• Basketball
• Soccer
• Football
• Gymnastics
• Baseball
• Tennis

By wearing a mouth guard, you reduce the risk of knocking out teeth or breaking your jaw.  If your child plays a sport, contact Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove for more information on mouth guards and how they can protect your child’s smile.  Call 516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our Glen Cove office.

Frequently Asked Questions Answered About Mouth Guards

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City

585 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530

516-222-5100

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

Your children will be heading back to school within the next week or so. The beginning of a new school year brings along parent teacher conferences, play dates, class trips and fall sports.

If your child is signed up for a fall sport such as soccer or football, you should consider purchasing them a mouth protector or mouth guard to protect their precious teeth!

Here are a few of your frequently asked questions about mouth guards, answered. Let us know if you have any additional questions on our Facebook page.

What are athletic mouth protectors?

Athletic mouth protectors, or mouth guards, are made of soft plastic. They are adapted to fit comfortably to the shape of the upper teeth.

Why are mouth guards important?

Mouth guards hold top priority as sports equipment. They protect not just the teeth, but the lips, cheeks, and tongue. They help protect children from such head and neck injuries as concussions and jaw fractures. Increasingly, organized sports are requiring mouth guards to prevent injury to their athletes. Research shows that more oral injuries occur when athletes are not wearing mouth protection.

When should my child wear a mouth guard?

Whenever he or she is 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.

How do I choose a mouth guard for my child?

Any mouth guard works better than no mouth guard. So, choose a mouth guard that your child can wear comfortably. If a mouth guard feels bulky or interferes with speech, it will be left in the locker room.

You can select from several options in mouth guards. First, preformed “boil to fit” mouth guards are found in sports stores. Different types and brands vary in terms of comfort, protection, and cost. Second, customized mouth guards are provided through your pediatric dentist. They cost a bit more, but are more comfortable and more effective in preventing injuries. Your pediatric dentist can advise you on what type of mouth guard would work best for your child. 

Play it Safe! Invest in a Mouth Guard

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City

585 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530

516-222-5100

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

With summer right around the corner, your kids are probably itching to get outdoors, join their summer sports teams, or even go to their favorite summer camp.  It’s great to keep them busy but of course the more active your child is, the higher the risk of dental calamities.

According to the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety:

• Dental injuries are the most common type of orofacial injury sustained during participation in sports; the majority of these dental injuries are preventable
• The cost of a fractured tooth is many times greater than the cost of a dentist diagnosed and designed professionally made mouth guard
• An athlete is 60 times more likely to sustain damage to the teeth when not wearing a protective mouth guard
• A properly fitted mouth guard reduces the chances of sustaining a concussion from a blow to the jaw

So play it safe! Help prevent sports-related mouth trauma by making sure your child wears a mouth guard during a game or practice. With proper care and use of a mouth guard, you’ll be able to appreciate your child’s smile after their winning game – not be busy worrying about it!

Read more on the importance of mouth guards on our website and ask us which mouth guard is best for your child!

How To Protect Your Child's Teeth This Fall Sports Season!

Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City

585 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530

516-222-5100 

www.PediatricDentistryofGardenCity.com

With school back in session, that can only mean one thing, fall sports are also! Whether your child plays soccer, football, baseball or basketball unfortunately there is always a chance that an injury will occur. 

Especially in contact sports, it is extremely important for your child’s oral health that they wear a mouth guard during athletic events.

The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation reports that more than 3 million teeth will be knocked out in youth sporting events this year alone! 

This fall sports season, if your child has a dental accident, here are a couple of tips to follow to preserve your child’s tooth: 

• Avoid touching the root of where the tooth was lost, it can be damaged easily.
• If the tooth is dirty, hold it by the upper part and rinse it off with milk until most of the dirt is washed away. If you don't have milk, don't clean it. Wiping it off may cause more damage.
• If it is a permanent tooth, try to gently put the tooth back in its socket for the best chance of preservation. If it's a baby tooth, don't put it back in. It can cause more pain and even infection.

Do you have any additional tips? Let us know on our Facebook page, linked HERE!