It is imperative to protect your teeth when engaging in athletic activities. The average person participates in sports without thinking about the potential negative consequences of contact with the head and other parts of the body. An errant football, puck, racket or baseball can ruin your smile.
It is time to put safety first and make use of the proper safeguards to keep those pearly whites looking fantastic.
The best way to protect your teeth while participating in athletics is to wear a mouth guard. Protecting the mouth is especially important for contact sports like hockey and football. However, this is not to say those who participate in soccer, racquetball, basketball, lacrosse and other sports should refrain from wearing a mouth guard.
Rather, people should wear a mouth guard in any type of activity where people and/or equipment are moving at a fast rate of speed in a confined space.
There are different types of mouth guards on the market. The generic variety fits mouths of varying sizes. Some generic mouth guards require soaking prior to placement in the mouth. Though generic mouth guards are affordable, they do not provide the level of protection and comfort of a fully customized mouth guard made by the dentist.
Sports participants should wear a helmet when competing or even practice. Any old helmet will not suffice. The helmet should have a robust face guard that can absorb the impact of contact without breaking. Furthermore, you should select a helmet ideal for your particular sport. For example, a helmet designed for cycling will not suffice when playing lacrosse.
Do not make the mistake of assuming your teeth, gums and tongue are invulnerable to damage during solo sports. You should take steps to protect your teeth when skating, skiing, snowboarding and cycling. While you will not be smacked in the head by a baseball traveling at 100 mph while enjoying solo activities, you are still at risk for tooth damage.
Consider an instance in which you trip or stumble, fall to the ground and slam your face against the pavement. It is also possible you will run or cycle into something, fall and endure extensive oral damage. Do not assume a helmet will provide adequate protection. A mouth guard is also necessary to protect your chompers.
The pool you select for laps must be properly maintained. A swimming pool with a particularly low pH will prove overly-acidic and possibly cause swimmer's calculus. Swimmer's calculus gradually forms after excessive enamel erosion occurs, making the teeth incredibly sensitive and yellow in hue. If you are an avid swimmer, you can do our part to protect your teeth by using an enamel-strengthening toothpaste.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with Babylon Smiles - Edward Zeva D.M.D., P.C., request an appointment in our Babylon dental office here: https://www.babylonsmiles.com. Or call us at (631) 773-1094.
If you habitually grind your teeth while sleeping, wearing a night guard each night is a great way to protect them. These devices reduce the stress put on teeth when grinding, and this leads to less damage as a result of bruxism.Night guards do not actually do anything to prevent or treat bruxism. Teeth grinding…
If you are constantly feeling under stress at work and at home, visit a night guard dentist. While that may sound like a strange combination, it can save your teeth and prevent headaches. Many people do not realize that when they have stress, the chance of clenching or grinding teeth at night only increases. In…
Preventive dentistry is for anyone interested in protecting their long-term dental and overall health. It is a branch of dentistry that focuses on treatments that help keep teeth healthy, such as teeth cleanings, fluoride treatments, and dental sealants. Preventive dentistry also includes simple things that you can do on your own to keep your teeth…
A visit to our dental office is probably the single most effective way to prevent infections, cavities, and oral diseases. We have found that people who visit the dental office on a regular basis have significantly fewer problems with their teeth. When you come to our dental office at least once every six months, we…
Visible cavities and broken teeth can detract from your smile and make you feel less confident, but tooth-colored, or composite, fillings can restore these problems in a way that makes the repairs difficult for others to see. In addition, these fillings have many other benefits, and learning about them before making a choice regarding their…
Dental cleaning is a huge part of routine check-ups. The procedure involves using a scaler to scrape off tartar and plaque deposits from teeth surfaces. Plaque is the sticky film that builds up on teeth, and it hardens into tartar when left on teeth surfaces for a few days. Both make you more vulnerable to…