Sports Safety Tips for National Facial Protection Month

We are calling all MVPs, team captains, full roster players, practice squads, coaches, teachers and parents/caregivers to pay attention to sports safety. Five of the nation’s top dental associations want to remind everyone to play it safe during recreational and organized sports to help prevent serious, painful facial injuries that can take the fun out of the game. Take five, and take in these five simple sports safety tips.

  1. Mouth Guards are a Must. Mouth guards are significantly less expensive than the cost to repair an injury, and dentists and dental specialists can make customized mouth guards that hold teeth in place and allow for normal speech and breathing.
  2. Helmets are always Helpful.  Helmets absorb the energy of an impact and help prevent damage to the head.  
  3. Have 20/20 Vision with Protective Eyewear.  Eyes are extremely vulnerable to damage, especially when playing sports.
  4. Face Shields Save Skin…and more.  Hockey pucks, footballs and racquetballs can cause severe facial damage at any age.
  5. Cheer and Shout Out Your Support for Mandatory Protective Gear. Athletes who participate in football, hockey and boxing are required to wear mouth guards. If mouth guards have been proven to significantly decrease the risk of oral injuries, why is it not mandatory in every sport for kids to wear them? 

The above information was provided by the Academy for Sports Dentistry. For more information visit http://www.academyforsportsdentistry.org.

National Facial Protection Month is sponsored annually during the month of April by The Academy for Sports Dentistry (ASD), the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) and the American Dental Association (ADA).

Visit your dentist for more information on custom mouth guards for dental and facial protection.