5 Ways To Protect Your Teeth While Doing Sports

February 22, 2022

  

When doing sports and other athletic activities, your primary focus may be on having fun or winning the game. In most cases, you may not be concerned about protecting your teeth throughout the activity. However, it’s essential to consider the safety of your teeth because some sports can get rough and cause potential damage to your mouth. This could result in you losing some teeth, as well as other adverse consequences.

To avoid this, here are five ways you can protect your teeth while doing sports.

1.Wear A Mouth Guard

Generally, many people don’t like the idea of using a mouth guard, since they’re somewhat unattractive and sometimes uncomfortable. However, despite its lack of stylish elements, sports mouthguards can be an effective way of safeguarding your teeth while doing athletic activities. They can provide a good level of protection against hard knocks on the teeth that might result in tooth loss, chipped teeth, and nerve damage. If you get hit in the face, a sports mouth guard will absorb the force of the impact, which reduces the possibility of injury to the mouth.
If you want to get the most out of your mouth guard, you should find the right one for you. For example, a custom-fit mouth guard can offer ultimate protection and comfort for your mouth.
As with most protective gear, your mouth guard won’t work as effectively without proper maintenance. So, if you decide to get one, keep the following maintenance tips in mind:
After use, rinse the mouth guard with cold water. Remove bacteria by cleaning it with toothpaste and a toothbrush.

Keep it in a perforated container to ensure proper air circulation and prevent damage.
Make sure to keep the mouth guard away from high temperatures to prevent shape distortion.
Constantly check if it has cracks, holes, and other issues. If you see one, make sure to replace the mouth guard as soon as possible.

Have your dentist check your mouth guard to see if it fits your mouth comfortably.

2. Use A Helmet

Another piece of safety gear that can help protect your teeth in sports is a helmet. Like mouth guards, helmets can be unattractive and uncomfortable to wear, but they’re important for certain athletic activities, such as football and hockey. Though primarily meant to protect the skull, they can also shield your teeth from potential damage. They’re made of a durable material capable of absorbing and distributing the force of impact.

However, you can’t assume that one helmet is suitable for all kinds of sports. Use the right one for the activity you intend to do. For example, when playing lacrosse, you should use the specific helmet designed for it, not the kind intended for biking. That way, you can mitigate the risks of damaging your teeth while playing. Some specific sports helmets that can protect your teeth include football helmets, bull riding helmets, and hockey helmets.

3. Visit Your Dentist

While wearing protective gear can help safeguard your teeth, it’s still best to go and see a dentist right after an athletic activity if your teeth were hit during the game. This is especially true if the impact was strong. Even if you feel fine and uninjured, it’s essential to get your teeth checked by a dentist. That way, they can examine your mouth, diagnose possible problems, and provide treatment.

So, if you think you have a dental problem caused by sports, don’t waste time. Go to a dental professional as soon as possible to save possibly chipped or broken teeth.

4. Encourage Safe Play

Typically, accidents are prone to happen in sports. But you can minimize the risk of damaging your teeth if you encourage safe play by following the rules. Practice the value of sportsmanship to avoid any aggressive play that might result in accidents or injuries. Familiarize yourself with scenarios where teeth injuries can occur, and prepare accordingly. The better you know how to play safely, the better you can protect yourself from sustaining tooth damage.

5. Engage In Solo Sports

You can also safeguard your teeth by engaging in solo sports instead of activities that involve other people. These can include biking, skiing, and skating. With this type of sport, there’s less risk of your teeth getting damaged, as you won’t have to worry as much about getting hit by someone’s arm, a bat, a ball, or any other object. However, you will still need to wear some protective equipment to reduce the risk of injury.

To reduce the possibility of harming your teeth as you try to stay active, it’s essential to choose the right sport for comprehensive protection. If you want to ensure optimal dental protection, solo sports may be a better option than group sports.

Bottom Line

Protecting your teeth while doing sports is essential, even if it’s not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of sports safety. Even if a chipped or broken tooth sounds like only a minor inconvenience, it can affect your overall dental health and prevent you from having a confident smile. So, keep the information mentioned above in mind to ensure the safety of your teeth when playing sports. That way, you can avoid serious dental disasters and continue to play sports without worry.

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