April is National Facial Protection Month – Learn How You Can Protect Your Mouth!

During the month of April, you have more than likely seen people walking around more and more in their favorite sports jerseys, shirts, and gear in support of their favorite professional or amateur baseball team, hockey team, or any other team they support. In fact, many children, teenagers, and adults alike are also gearing up for the beginning of their spring sports teams, itching once more to start playing with their teams professionally or just for fun.

April is National Facial Protection Month, and this month Dr. Jeff wants to remind athletes, parents, and coaches alike to not forget one very important part of their uniform when heading out to play sports this year – your mouthguard!

If you believe that mouthguards are overrated, we urge you to take a look at some of the disconcerting statistics that we have discovered. According to the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of the 7 million sports-related injuries that are estimated to occur this year, both professional and recreational, will involve children as young as 5 years old. The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation has also discovered that athletes who do not wear a mouthguard are 60 times more likely to damage their teeth. Perhaps more frightening than that is the fact that 84% of children do not wear mouthguards when playing organized sports because they are not required to wear them, even though helmets and shoulder pads might be required.

There is no need to worry about these statistics if you are an athlete, however. You just need to do one simple thing before stepping out into the field – put on your mouthguard! Oftentimes less expensive than other standard equipment needed for sports, mouthguards are essential to help in preventing any facial injuries you might experience, including broken braces and loose or broken teeth.

We also want to encourage you to protect your other vital parts of your body! In addition to wearing your mouthguard, please do not forget to wear your helmet and also protective eyewear to help you see and to help prevent any permanent damage from occurring.

If an accident has occurred whether you were wearing your mouthguard or not and you have loose or broken braces or teeth, please come in to see us or call us at (618) 288-0600 in Glen Carbon or (618) 622-3377 in Swansea. Feel free also to stop by and ask us more about mouthguards or to make an appointment to see Dr. Jeff!

Remember to play it safe on the field, protect your teeth, and enjoy yourself!