Watch your mouth" - mouth guards demystified. Parents, Coaches and Athletes are Urged to Sink Their Teeth In.

The importance of mouth guards is a bigger issue as football, hockey and other contact sports become more "contact" oriented each year.

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Watch your mouth" - mouth guards demystified.
Parents, Coaches and Athletes are Urged to Sink Their Teeth In.

DATELINE: WEYMOUTH, MA, OCTOBER 26, 2001…
The importance of mouth guards is a bigger issue as football, hockey and other contact sports become more "contact" oriented each year.

Combining old school patient care with new technology, Dr. Ron Perry teaches at prestigious Tufts University's dental school, runs a thriving practice in Weymouth, MA and lectures to various dental societies on the subject of aesthetic dentistry throughout the U.S. He offers the following advice for parents, coaches and athletes to sink their teeth into.

You Won't Get Another Set!
Your teeth need to last for the rest of your life, so it's important to take extra measures to protect them when participating in sports. Although athletes routinely wear helmets, face masks, and special padding for protection, many overlook the fact that a mouth guard is also an important piece of athletic gear.

In amateur sports, both the intensity level of athletic competition and the strength and skill of amateur athletes have increased significantly. This, in turn, has raised the risk of injury to athletes who do not take adequate measures to protect themselves.

Anytime there is a likelihood of contact with hard surfaces or other participants, athletes should wear a mouth guard. While football and hockey are the sports traditionally associated with facial and oral injuries, athletes participating in a wide variety of other sports, such as soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball and gymnastics are also at significant risk.

Female athletes are a particular concern for those working in sports medicine and sports dentistry. Participation is skyrocketing in girl's sports programs. At the same time, girls may be less likely than boys to consider wearing a mouth guard, and less willing to wear one if it is provided. Girls need to understand that they are just as likely to experience mouth injuries in sports as boys are.

Remember: you'll never get another set! All amateur athletes need to take special steps to protect their teeth.

Mouth guards: An Essential Piece of Athletic Gear
The American Dental Association notes that before high schools and colleges began to require that football players wear mouth guards and face masks, nearly half of all injuries occurred in or around the mouth. The ADA estimates that mouth guards and facemasks now prevent about 200,000 football injuries each year.

Mouth guards cushion blows that might cause broken teeth or injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw. ADA research indicates that mouth guards may even help to reduce the incidence and severity of concussion in amateur sports.

An good mouth guard should be resilient, tear-resistant and comfortable. It should fit properly and not restrict your breathing or speech. For athletes, there are three types of mouth guards available: stock, boil-and-bite, and custom-fitted.

Stock mouth guards are inexpensive and easily found in sporting goods stores. They are pre-formed and ready to wear, but can often be bulky or uncomfortable, making breathing or talking difficult.

Boil-and-bite mouth guards can also be bought at many sporting goods stores. This type of mouth guard is first softened in hot water, then inserted and conformed to the shape of your mouth. Boil-and-bite mouth guards may be more comfortable and fit better than stock mouth guards.

Custom-fitted mouth guards are made by your dentist specifically to fit your mouth. Although they are more expensive than other mouth guards, they are also more durable and provide a more comfortable fit and better protection. Serious athletes may want to consider investing in a custom mouth guard, which they can use to protect their teeth for as long as they continue to participate in sports.

Emergency Dental Care
If an injury occurs, don't panic. The most important thing to remember is to seek treatment immediately. Injured teeth can often be saved if treatment is not delayed.
Call your dentist at once. If you are not able to reach your dentist, or if the injury occurs in competition away from home, immediately seek treatment in the emergency room of the closest hospital.

If you knock out a tooth, be sure to find it! It can often be saved. If it's dirty, hold it by the crown and rinse with water only. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. Try to put the tooth back into its socket. If you're unable to replace the tooth in its socket, try holding it between the cheek and gum, to keep it moist. If that's not possible, put the tooth in a glass of milk and take it with you to the dentist. In all cases, immediately seek treatment at a dentist's office or hospital emergency room.

If a tooth is dislodged or loosened, get to dentist immediately, or seek treatment in a hospital emergency room.

If a tooth is broken, rinse your mouth with warm water to keep the area clean. Use cold compresses to reduce swelling or pain. Contact your dentist immediately.

If your tongue or lip are bleeding, apply direct pressure to the injury and use cold compresses to reduce swelling and pain. If bleeding does not stop, go to a hospital emergency room. Stitches may be necessary.

If wires from braces are broken and causing irritation, cover the end with dental wax, a piece of cotton, or even a small piece of sugarless chewing gum. If the wire has become stuck in your cheek, tongue or gum, do not attempt to remove it. Contact your dentist immediately.

Specializing in general and cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Ronald Perry has been a practicing dentist for 12 years. His office, Meridian Dental Associates, is located at 1650 Main Street, on Route 18 in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. Dr. Perry is a faculty member at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and Director of Tufts' Gavel Center for Restorative Dental Research. In addition to his dental practice and teaching responsibilities, he lectures nationally and internationally on a variety of topics in dentistry. To make an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Perry, please call Meridian Dental Associates, (781) 331-9200 or visit www.meridiandental.com.