Playing sports can provide children with extra exercise, teach them the importance of teamwork, and help them build self-esteem. However, there are always injury risks in a competitive sport. If your young one participates in football, basketball, hockey, or another team, you're likely concerned about protecting their mouth and teeth. You can reduce the likelihood of needing an emergency pediatric dentist by following these simple safety tips.

4 Ways to Prevent Dental Injuries During Sports

1. Follow the Rules

Playing by the rules can promote safety and reduce the risk of getting hurt. That's a major reason why it's important to thoroughly learn the regulations of whatever sport they're into.

Attending all practices and training sessions can help your child learn defensive techniques, proper postures, and how to safely navigate gameplay. This can make it easier for your child to avoid falls and blows to the face, preventing mouth injuries and tooth damage. 

2. Limit Sports Drinks

Sports drinks are popular among athletes, as these beverages can replenish lost fluids during games. However, they often contain high amounts of sugar, which attract bacteria to the teeth, making decay and cavities more likely to develop. 

Replacing these drinks with water can promote hydration and protect their dental health. If your child loves sports beverages, offer them only occasionally and encourage them to drink sips of water intermittently. This may wash away sugary residues and discourage the growth of cavity-causing bacteria. 

3. Use Face Coverings

Covering the face can protect the mouth from airborne objects, falls, and direct contact with others while playing sports. If your little one is a soccer goalie or baseball catcher, wearing a face cage can prevent the ball from hitting their mouth and breaking or chipping a tooth. 

Wearing a helmet with a face shield, such as while playing football, may also reduce the risk of physical impacts that might chip or break teeth and cause trauma to the jaw. Additionally, these coverings offer protection for the nose, eyes, and head, preventing these areas from becoming injured. 

4. Get a Mouthguard

Mouthguards are made of durable yet flexible plastic designed to fit over the teeth. A pediatric dentist can take impressions of your child's mouth and send them to a lab, where technicians will create a mouthguard that fits precisely and comfortably over your young one's teeth. 

Wearing these while playing sports may absorb impacts and provide a protective barrier that prevents teeth from becoming chipped or cracked. These dental appliances can also keep children from accidentally biting down on their tongues and inner cheeks during a fall or impact.

Protect your young sports player's mouth and teeth with help from William U. Britton, DDS, MAGD. For more than 35 years, this pediatric dentist has provided custom mouthguards along with routine exams and cleanings for kids throughout Chillicothe and Jackson, OH. Call (740) 772-2225 to book an appointment with this dentist, and visit the website to learn more about how they'll promote your child's dental hygiene.